i5 OW THE STUDY OP NAttJRife; 



after these come various other plants, till at lengtfi 

 the whole space is filled. If a rock is left entirely- 

 bare by the receding of water, the minute crustace- 

 ous Lichens in a few years entirely cover it. These 

 dying, turn to earth, and the imbricated Lichens 

 now have a bed to strike their roots into. Those 

 also die. and various species of Mosses succeed ; and 

 when, after some time, a sufficiency of mould has 

 been formed, the larger plants, and even shrubs^ 

 take root and live. 



The quickness of vegetation in hot and cold cli- 

 mates is so astonishing as to be perfectly unac- 

 countable, were we not able to refer it to a most 

 exalted wisdom. 



The foUoivhig Is the Calendar of a Slherian or 

 Lapland Year, 



June 23. Snow melts. 



July 1 . Snow gone. 



9. Fields quite green. 



17. Plants at full growth. 

 2.5. Plants in flower. 



August 2. Fruits ripe. 



10. Plants shed their seed. 



18. Snow. 



From August IS, to June 23, Snow and Ice, 



Thus it appears that from their first emerging 

 from the ground, to the ripening of their seeds, the 

 plants take but a month ; and Spring, Summer, and 

 Autumn, are crowded into the short space of fifty- 

 six, days*. 



* An:a?nitatcs Academical, vol. iv.— StiUinirfleet. 



