Linnean System of Plants. 135 
latter so clearly visible, that, with the aid of a microscope, he 
not only counted sixty-eight flowers, but could discern the 
pollen of the stamens, and perceive that some was opaque, 
and some transparent. It would be more advisable for the 
young student to gather one of these buds in the early spring, 
are the sun is “just beginning to melt away the gum with 
which the scales are sealed together. If his surprise at the 
fact here related have touched upon incredulity, he will then 
believe and admire; as he becomes more familiar with such 
objects, his doubt and wonder will probably be diminished, 
but his interest and love of nature will be proportionally 
increased. The examination of buds, bulbs, and seeds will 
afford an endless source of entertainment and admiration to 
the young botanist: he will be surprised to learn by how 
many miniature plants he has been unconsciously surrounded 
in the depth of winter. There are comparatively few seeds 
in which he may not see something of the future plant: he 
may witness the early promises of spring while luxuriating 
upon the ripe fruits of autumn. Even in imported fruits he 
may behold life as it were waiting to start into action: let 
him split an almond, and between the two sides, which are 
termed the cotyledons (cavity, from the Greek), and which 
are the storehouses from which the young plant draws its 
nourishment, he will perceive two small leaves, regularly 
formed and veined, and wanting only light to give them 
colour. Of the Raina Hosea one of the most obvious in 
this embryo state is the tulip, on account of its size. Care- 
fully stripping off the coats of the bulb one by one, the minia- 
ture plant may be discovered snugly cradled in the centre. 
We cannot have a better specimen of the early formation of 
plants in the bud, than in that of the horsechestnut. This 
tree was brought into England in the year 1550, and is now 
so common that we do ae gener ally consider it as a foreigner : 
or, if we do ever think of it in that light, it is as a flower ron 
Brobdignag: a fine Brobdignagian | lupine ; not as a stout 
tree stretching out its umbrageous arms over us, like a father 
with protecting tenderness laying his hand upon the head of 
his child. The deer, however, account it a noble fruit tree : 
they feed eagerly upon the nuts, which, either in a raw state, 
or made into a paste after maceration in lime-water, are fre- 
quently given to sheep to fatten them, The Turks grind 
them, aad mingle the meal with other provender, for ne 
horses. Both soap and starch have been obtained 3 om these 
nuts, and there has been just enough done to show that there 
is much more to do, and that industry and ingenuity might 
turn them to account in various ways. They afford an excellent 
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