50 FOLIAGE OF TREES AND PLANTS. 
thus in a manner keep up a perpetual irrigation and 
refreshment of the soil, and promote the decomposition 
of the foliage beneath, which being drawn into the earth 
by worms, contributes to the verdure by the nutriment 
they yield. 
The foliage of trees and plants, by its amazing pro- 
fusion, variety, and beauty, must ever have been, as it 
is now, a subject of admiration and delight, is perhaps 
full as deserving of notice, and at times even more to 
be regarded, than the blossoms which accompany it. 
Let us take only one yard square upon the first verdant 
ditch-bank in spring, and the variation of form and 
character which will there be presented may probably 
exceed general imagination ; but the object of all this 
extraordinary diversity is concealed, with the many other 
mysteries of creation : yet we have such an ascendant 
thirst for information upon the causes and nature of the 
things about us, as to render it an apparent inherent 
principle of the mind, inducing it to gratitude and love. 
From information in all the works of Providence arises, 
as a necessary consequence, admiration, and an exalted 
sense of supreme intelligence and goodness. Without 
the desire of knowing the designs and processes of 
things, no investigation would be bestowed, and we 
should remain in ignorance of all but the bare facts, 
and gross perceptions of creation ; nor can it be ques- 
tioned but that the more extensive our acquaintance is 
with the objects of Providence, in such proportions 
must our convictions be of his justice, wisdom, and 
power. 
The great utility of foliage, and its agency in accom- 
plishing the requirements of the plant and its products, 
are well known ; and we can form some comprehension 
of the vast supply that is required by a tree, when we 
view its foliage, each leaf being employed in receiving 
and transmitting gases from the air in certain propor- 
tions to the plant : these great operations having been 
effected during the summer months, and this agency of 
the leaves finished, they fall to the ground, not as a 
useless encumbrance, but to convey a large portion of 
fresh soil peculiarly fitted for the nutriment of vegeta- 
