PHANTOM FLOWERS. 73 



of the nearest library, and thus Iter interest in a study 

 so elevating and refining, wiU be increased. From 

 these she wiU learn a multitude of facts, such as 

 nothing short of the most elaborate chemical analysis 

 could have detected, some of which wiU be found pe- 

 culiarly relevant to the study in hand. 



It v7ould be out of place to crowd these pages with 

 extended extracts from botanical authorities ; but a 

 brief summary from some of them, in relation to the 

 structure and functions of a leaf, will be quite appro- 

 priate. All plants, in a general sense, receive their food 

 in a soluble state, through their roots. The tree receives 

 its supply of minerals, such as sUex, lime, alumina, 

 potassa, and magnesia, also in solution. The sap, thus 

 charged with nourishment, ascends the trunk, traverses 

 the branches, and passes into the leaf. The superflous 

 water, which held the nourishment in solution, passes 

 ofi" by perspiration from the leaf, but the plant refuses 

 to part with the nourishment contained in the water. 

 This is distributed throughout the plant, a portion 

 being deposited in the cells of the leaf. The wonderful 

 plexus of minute vessels which traverses its whole 

 cellular tissue becomes clogged as the season advances, 

 its circulating functions gradually cease to operate, and 

 long before winter they are whoUy suspended. The 

 7 



