60 FOLIAGE OF TREES AND PLANTS. 



thus in a manner keep up a "perpetual irrigation and 

 refreshment of the soil, and promote the decomposition 

 of the foliage beneath, which being drawn into the earth 

 by worms, contributes to the verdure by the nutriment 

 they yield. 



The foliage of trees and plants, by its amazing pro- 

 fusion, variety, and beauty, must ever have been, as it 

 is now, a subject of admiration and delight, is perhaps 

 full as deserving of notice, and at times even more to 

 be regarded, than the blossoms which accompany it. 

 Let us take only one yard square upon the first verdant 

 ditch-bank in spring, and the variation of form and 

 character which will there be presented may probably 

 exceed general imagination ; but the object of all this 

 extraordinary diversity is concealed, with the many other 

 mysteries of creation : yet we have such an ascendant 

 thirst for information upon the causes and nature of the 

 things about us, as to render it an apparent inherent 

 principle of the mind, inducing it to gratitude and love. 

 From information in all the works of Providence arises, 

 as a necessary consequence, admiration, and an exalted 

 sense of supreme intelligence and goodness. Without 

 the desire of knowing the designs and processes of 

 things, no investigation would be bestowed, and we 

 should remain in ignorance of all but the bare facts, 

 and gross perceptions -of creation; nor can it be ques- 

 tioned but that the more extensive our acquaintance is 

 with the objects of Providence, in such proportions 

 must our convictions be of his justice, wisdom, and 

 power. 



The great utility of foliage, and its agency in accom- 

 plishing the requirements of the plant and its products, 

 are well known ; and we can form some comprehension 

 of the vast supply that is required by a tree, when we 

 view its foliage, each leaf being employed in receiving 

 and transmitting gases from the air in certain propor- 

 tions to the plant : these great operations having been 

 effected during the summer months, and this agency of 

 the leaves finished, they fall to the ground, not as a 

 useless encumbrance, but to convey a large portion of 

 fresh soil peculiarly fitted for the nutriment of vegeta- 



