78 ON VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY. 



The stamens, from which the fertilizing prin- 

 ciple is to be derived, are secured within the 

 petals, and are made to extend their summits (the 

 anthera) vertically, that they may be fully acted 

 upon by the sun's rays, and thus receive the ex- 

 citement which their construction requires; while 

 the petals of the corolla, which afford a surround- 

 ing protection to the whole, are formed of the 

 most delicate materials, that they may absorb 

 only such portions of light, and of the moist and 

 nutritive properties of the atmosphere, as may 

 best suit the peculiar wants of the other parts of 

 the flower. In this manner, the first materials 

 of the new plant are protected and nourished, 

 until by their progressive advance they are ren- 

 dered fit for future developement; and this being 

 accomplished, they are left to their own resources ; 

 the auxiliary instruments of protection and nou- 

 rishment dying away and dropping off, when 

 their services are no longer required. So beau- 

 tiful and so uniform is the order of nature! So 

 wonderful and so consistent are all her works! 



The pericarp, having thus been perfected in all 

 its parts, the germination of the seed and the 

 formation of a new plant become the next for 

 consideration. But previously, as connected 

 with the subject, it will be useful to know the 

 means adopted by nature for the distribution of 

 the various seeds, so as to afford that diversity 

 of vegetable productions which we see adorn and 

 cover the face of the earth. 



