PLANT LIFE. 35 



says : " It appears throughout nature that the efforts of a plant, 

 from its first establishment, are directed to acquire the proper 

 state and condition to propagate its species, and that in its 

 seed and fruit is comprised its concentrated essence. We may 

 therefore estimate its powers and efforts to be in proportion to 

 its wants." 



The general functions of animals and vegetables are in most 

 respects similar, and the operations of nature regarding both 

 are regulated by much the same laws. Most likely the different 

 species only of animals and vegetables were at first created, and 

 that the different varieties which we now observe were caused 

 by differences in climate, food and shelter. The same inter- 

 course is necessary to both for the purpose of reproduction. 

 We have the same control over the process of fertilization in 

 plants as we have over the mixture of breeds in animals, and 

 are thus enabled to produce varieties at will, although there is 

 a point beyond which nature revolts. Nature provides for the 

 propagation of plants in different ways, but generally by seed. 

 Some are raised by setting a part of the root in the ground, 

 others by offsets, and others again by cuttings, and others by 

 grafting and budding. Nature is prolific, but never prodigal. 

 She always holds in reserve the power to reproduce in case of 

 failure of the seed. We look upon the tree when in leaf and 

 flower with admiration, and yet how few ever realize the rela- 

 tion of the leaf to the parent tree ; how few realize that the 

 leaves are the lungs of the tree, and that the tree could not 

 sustain life long without them ; that it is through the instru- 

 mentality of the leaf that the tree or vegetable obtains its food, 

 drawing from the earth those substances there distilled, and 

 from the air various elements, which, combined, make the per- 

 fect food of the plant, throwing off into the atmosphere all im- 

 pure substances not required for its purpose, and then dispens- 

 ing the prepared food for the growth of the tree and the matur- 

 ing of the fruit. Cut a twig from any tree you please, and let 

 us examine the leaf and see what other office it holds besides 

 that of caterer to the appetite of the parent tree. What is this 

 little casket at the foot of the leaf-stalk ? Be very careful now, 

 for the little bud contains the future hopes of the tree. Within 

 are the leaf and flower for the coming year, the embryo or 

 germ, containing all the elements of a perfect tree within itself. 



