PBAXTOM FLOWERS. 



73 



of the nearest library, and thus her interest in a stiidj 

 so elevating and refining, will be increased. From 

 these she will leam a multitude of facts, such as 

 nothing short of the most elaborate chemical analysis 

 could have detected, some of which 'vv-ill be found pe- 

 culiarly relevant to the study in hand. 



It would 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 frmctions 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 silex, 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 

 off 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 frmctions gradually cease to operate, and 

 long before winter they are wholly suspended. The 



