XIV. 



BLOSSOM AND SEED 



Plants, even the very humblest and lowliest, have, as 

 we have seen, many requirements in the way of food of 

 various kinds, water, air, light, and warmth. But 

 having seen them duly provided with all these, we 

 might fancy that now at last all their wants were 

 satisfied, and that nothing more remained but for them 

 to make the best of their opportunities and — grow. 



But all depends upon what we consider to be the 

 plant's object in life. For instance, we may be quite 

 satisfied to grow orange-trees for their blossom merely, 

 or maize for use as forage, and palms for the sake of 

 their foliage, in climates where it is impossible for any 

 one of them to ripen their fruit. And provided they 

 throve and answered these purposes, our object would 

 be attained. 



But plants in the natural state grow to bear and 

 ripen fruit. All the rest of their lives is merely a pre- 

 paration for this one grand end. The roots draw food 

 from the soil, and the leaves do the same from the air, 

 all for the purpose of feeding and maturing the fruit — 

 the one aim to which everything tends. 



Of course, where man comes upon the scene it is 



