248 



THE AMERICAN 



did the leaf begin its work? It was the first to 

 rise on creation's morn and go forth to labor. 

 Ere the almost shoreless ocean dashed upon the 

 low Silurian plain, the leaf was at its work. 

 And throngh all the long- ages it has worked — 

 worked to develop better and liigher forms of 

 life. And the earth's broad face is written all 

 over with the evidences of its faithfulness. 



Now, w hat does it do ? It pumps water from 

 the ground, through the thousands of tubes in 

 the stem of the tree (the tiibes which itself has 

 made) , and sends it into the atmosphere in the 

 form of unseen mist, to be condensed and fall in 

 sliowers. The ver.y water, tliat, were it not for 

 tlic leaf, would sink in the earth, and find its 

 way x^erchance through subterranean channels 

 to the sea. And thus it is tliat we see it works 

 to give ns the " early and tlie latter rain." It 

 works to send the rills and streams, like lines 

 of silver, adown the mountain and across the 

 plain. It works to pour down the larger brooks 

 which turn the wheel that enei'gizes machinery 

 — which gives employment to millions. And 

 thus a thousand wants are supplied — commerce 

 stimulated — wealth accumulated — and intelli- 

 gence disseminated through the agency of this 

 wealth. The leaf does it all. 



It has been demonstrated that every square 

 inch of leaf lifts three five-hundredtbs of an 

 ounce every twenty-four hours. Now, a large 

 forest tree has about Ave acres of foliage, or six 

 million two hundred and seventy-two thousand 

 six hundred and forty square inches. This 

 being multiplied by three flve-hundredths (the 

 amount pumped by every inch) gives us the 

 result — two thousand three hundred and fifty- 

 two ounces, or one thousand one hundred and 

 seventy-six quarts, or two hundred and ninety- 

 four gallons, or eight barrels. A medium sized 

 forest tree, about five barrels. The trees on an 

 acre give eight hundred barrels in twenty-four 

 hours. Au acre of grass, or clover, or grain, 

 would j'ield about the same result. 



The leaf is a worker, too, in another field of 

 labor, where we seldom look, where it exhibits 

 its unselfishness — where it works for the good 

 ot man in a most wonderful manner. It car- 

 ries immense quantities of electricity from the 

 earth to the clouds, and from the clouds to the 

 earth. Bather dangerous business, transporting 

 lightning. I think it would be considered con- 

 traband by the " U. S.," or "Merchant's Union," 

 or any common carriers: but it is particularly 

 fitted for this work. Did you ever see a leaf 

 entire as to its edges? It is always pointed, 

 and these pomfe, whether they be large or small, 

 ai'e just fitted to handle this dangerous agent. 



These tiny fingers seize upon and carry it away 

 with ease and wonderful dispatch. There must 

 be no delay; it is " time freight." True, some- 

 times it gathers up more than the trunk can 

 carry, and in tlie attempt to crowd and pack 

 the baggage the trunk gets terribly shattered, 

 and we say that lightning struck the tree. But 

 it had been struck a thousand times before. 

 This time it was overworked. 



As we rub a stick of sealing-wax or a glass 

 tube with a warm silk handkerchief, so the air 

 is always rubbing over the face of the earth 

 with greater or less rapidity. And what a huge 

 electrical machine ! But be not afraid, the leaf 

 will see that it is taken care of. As we guard 

 our roofs from the destructive action of light- 

 ning — dashing to the earth — crashing, rending, 

 burning on its way — by erecting the lightning 

 rod, whose bristling points quietly drain the 

 clouds, or failing to do this, receive the charge 

 and bear it harmless to the earth — so God has 

 made a living conductor in every pointed leaf, 

 in every blade of grass. It is said that a com- 

 nion blade of grass, pointed by nature's exqui- 

 site workmanship, is tJiree times as effectual as 

 the finest cambric needle; and a single tivig of 

 leaves is far more efficient than the metallic 

 points of the best constructed rod. "What, then, 

 must be the agency of a single forest in disarm- 

 ing the forces of the storm of their terror. 



Nature furnishes the lightning, and it fur- 

 nishes the lightning rods. Take a hint, then, 

 and plant trees. 



PRESBRTATION OP FOEEST TREES. 



It should be an object with us to preserve, 

 in our villages, towns and cities, specimens of 

 the native torest trees. If those having the care 

 of public grounds would give a little attention 

 to this subject, much beauty and interest would 

 be added to these places. Even the rows of 

 trees along the streets of our towns and cities 

 might be made to represent the ancient forest, 

 now rapidly being defaced and swept away by 

 the all-devouring axe. What lasting beauty 

 and variety would thus be secured for those 

 grounds and streets! A public square filled 

 mostl)' with trees of any single species, is a 

 beautiful object ; but how much more beautiful 

 and interesting it would be if it contained sixty 

 different trees, and an undergrowth of hand- 

 some and ornamental shrubs. Such places 

 would at once give character to the locality, 

 and attract to it people of taste and refinement. 

 J. A. Lapham. 



