HOW PLANTS GROW FROM THE SEED. 
17 
ences in the particulars. While the same kind of plant always grows in exactly 
the same way, different kinds differ almost as much at the beginning as they do 
afterwards. The great variety which we observe among the herbs and shrubs 
and trees around us, — in foliage, flower, fruit, and everything, — gives to vegeta- 
tion one of its greatest charms. We should soon tire of plants or flowers made 
all after one exact pattern, however beautiful. We enjoy variety. But the bota- 
nist finds a higher interest in all these differences than any one else, because he 
discerns one simple plan running through all this diversity, and everywhere re- 
peated in different forms. He sees that in every plant there is root growing down- 
wards, connecting the vegetable with the soil ; stem rising into the light and air, 
and bearing leaves at regular places, and then blossoms, and that the parts of one 
kind of blossom answer to those of another, only differing in shape ; and he de- 
lights in observing how the tens of thousands of kinds of plants all harmonize with 
each other, like the parts of concerted music, — plainly showing that they were all 
contrived, as parts of one system, by one Divine Mind. 
38. So in the beginning, in the growth of plants from the seed, although the 
general plan is the same in all, the variations are many and great. The plan is 
well shown in the two seedling plants which have served for illustration, namely, 
the Morning-Glory and the Maple. Let us now notice some of the variations, as 
exhibited in a few very common plants. A great deal may be learned from the 
commonest plants, if we will only open our eyes to see them, and “ consider how 
they grow,” and why they differ in the way they do. Take, for instance, 
39. The Bean. Soak a bean in warm water (if a fresh one is not to be had) 
and remove the coats. The whole kernel consists p 
of an embryo, as seen in Fig. 32. And almost 
the whole bulk of this embryo consists of two ' 
thick pieces, c , c , which are the cotyledons or 
seed-leaves. We may make out the plan of the 
whole thing better by spreading these thick seed- 
leaves wide open, as in Fig. 33. Here the two 
thick seed-leaves are seen from the inside, c , c ; 
they are connected with the upper end of a stemlet, which is the radicle, r ; and 
above this already shows the bud or plumule, p. 
40. So the embryo of the Bean is the same in plan as that of the Maple (Fig. 
27), only the stemlet is much shorter in proportion, and the seed-leaves very much 
larger and thicker. What is the reason of this difference ? 
