260 LETTER XXII. 



Such is the provision that nature has contrived to 

 ensure the perpetuation of Grasses ; for there is but 

 little variation from this arrangement throughout the 

 species of the tribe. 



Here let us pause for an instant to admire the 

 beautiful adaptation of all the parts to the functions 

 they have to perform. Grasses spring up with 

 rapidity as soon as the earliest rains have fallen upon 

 the dry ground where their grains have been de- 

 posited ; it is necessary that they should do so in 

 order that, however imperfect the supply of rain may 

 be, the earth may at all times be clothed with ver- 

 dure. To ensure this. Providence has given them a 

 young stem which is almost formed in the very seed, 

 and which is ready upon the slightest stimulus to 

 spring forth into life ; but if the young stem were to 

 sprout with such rapidity, the roots would be unable 

 to supply it fast enough with food, and it would pre- 

 sently wither and die, unless some special means were 

 provided of meeting this difficulty; accordingly, a 

 great abundance of albumen is stored up, as a certain 

 supply of food till the roots can themselves obtain it 

 from the earth. The supply of the albumen would, 

 however, be useless unless some means existed of 

 conveying it with rapidity to the plumule, and ac- 

 cordingly we find the broad thin cotyledon, a highly 

 absorbent body, placed wdth its whole surface applied 

 to the albumen, and ready to transfer the nutritive 

 fluid to the plumule as quickly as the former can 

 be formed. 



Grasses are so numerous and so very simple in 



