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, 

 when 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 bulbous flowers, 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 hkve 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 1 550, and is now 

 so common that we do not generally consider it as a foreigner : 

 or, if we do ever think of it in that light, it is as sijlower from 

 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, and mingle the meal with other provender, for their 

 horses. Both soap and starch have been obtained from 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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