voirs from which it draws life when moisture is 
denied to its roots, or the nurturing dews of heaven 
to its stems. The guardian of this plant, which 
stands between life and death, in its exposure to 
excessive drought, is the envelope of its succulent 
leaves. This covering, or epidermis, is pierced by 
numerous minute invisible pores, called stomates, 
through which the plant breathes and perspires. 
In plants which inhabit moist situations, and are 
not liable to be exposed to the deprivation of liquid 
food, these stomates are numerous and large, and 
admit of rapid evaporation, which is continually 
replenished by the roots. On the other hand, the 
stomates of succulent plants are veiy few, or 
else they are exceedingly minute, — not more 
than the two hundred and fifty thousandth part 
of an inch long, so that evaporation would be slow. 
Their minuteness does not, however, explain the 
whole of the mysterious arrangement adopted by 
an all-wise Creator for the preservation of this class 
of plants ; for notwithstanding the escape of fluid 
is hereby prevented, it may be observed that if a 
shrivelled leaf be immersed in water it will absorb 
it rapidly ; hence we see that the plant is made 
capable of replenishing its juices quicldy when 
opportunity occurs. This may be effected by some 
cuticular jirovision which we are incapable of 
detecting; or may arise from a suitable thickening 
of the juices of the plant, to prevent their escape 
by exudation. 
The fleshy leaves of Sedum album, laid on light 
soil, readily take root and grow, so that very little 
care is required in its propagation. 
