spines ; and the absence of leaves in some of the 
species. Generally speaking, we say that leaves are 
necessary for the elaboration of the sap, to render 
it suitable food for the flowers, and the fruit ; and 
it is very true, that where leaves are furnished to 
plants, those leaves are necessary to the healthy 
development both of the tree and its produce : but 
leaves we see, exquisitely organized as they are, can 
be dispensed with ; and yet the plant can produce 
its flowers in beauty; and its seeds it can nourish to 
maturity, for the continuance of its species. There 
are other appendages too, important, doubtless, to 
the plants which bear them; but all plants require 
them not; thorns, bristles, glands, scales, and such 
like forms of clothing are common on some, whilst 
others are as exempt from them as polished marble ; 
and who amongst us has satisfied the “why and 
because’ of their existence, or their absence. Who 
has yet told us why the kindred fruits — the Peach 
and Nectarine, have coats of a texture so completely 
different. No attention of ours can change either 
the one or the other. 
Spines too, offer to our contemplation as wide a 
field for speculation. In some instances they are 
eradicated by cultivation, as in the Pear ; hence 
they are said to be starved branches ; but other 
spinous plants there are, which no cultivator has 
ever rendered spineless. How little we know ! as 
Pope justly intimates — 
“All Nature is but Art, unknown to thee ; 
All Chance, Direction which thou canst not see; 
All Discord, Harmony not understood ; 
All partial Evil, universal Good.” 
