ON LEAVES. 61 



her works ; and, in the arrangement of leaves on the 

 stem, she has been studious to prevent their covering 

 each other too closely, both light and air being required 

 to enable them to perform their functions. 



Emily. Is it not surprising that Nature should have be- 

 stowed so much pains upon so insignificant a part of the 

 creation as a leaf; which, however beautiful and curious- 

 ly constructed, lasts but a season, and is then scattered 

 by the first blast of wind, and trodden under foot ? 



Mrs. B. Not until it has performed the part which 

 Nature has assigned to it; and when you are acquainted 

 with the importance of its functions in the vegetable 

 economy, you will probably be induced to treat it with 

 more respect. 



Caroline. Leaves, when they first shoot, are general- 

 ly enclosed in small scaly buds, evidently designed to 

 protect them from inclemency of weather. Now these 

 scales differ totally in form and appearance from the leaves 

 they shelter ; and I think, Mrs. B., that you would be at 

 a loss to derive them from the same origin ? 



Mrs. B. Nothing more simple. All leaves begin to 

 shoot without any external covering ; but when, in early 

 spring, they quit the protecting branch in which they were 

 embosomed, to enter into the cold region of the atmos- 

 phere, they are chilled and checked in their growth, and, 

 instead of expanding in the natural form, they contract, 

 harden, curve inwards, and are finally transformed into 

 a species of scales, which serve to protect the internal 

 leaves : under so friendly a covering, these vegetate free- 

 ly. In the mean time the season advances, the atmos- 

 phere acquires heat, and the young leaves, having been 

 protected from its former inclemency, are cherished and 

 developed by its genial influence. 



Emily. What a beautiful provision for the security of 

 a leaf! 



Mrs. B. If you follow up the development of the bud 

 of the ash or the maple, you will observe that the external 



324. What does Emily consider surprising'? 325. When does 



Mrs. B. think she will be induced to treat the subject differently 1 ? 326. 



What question does Caroline ask concerning the scaly buds in which 



leaves are generally enclosedl 327. How is this difficulty explained 1 



6 



