THE NATURAL CONDITIONS OP PLANTS. 49 
service to man, affording him in various countries 
supplies of food in time of need, and giving pro- 
tection to numberless animals upon which man 
subsists. Nor is this all — I would fain hope that 
the words of the poet will not apply to any of my 
readers— 
“ In vain, through every changeful year, 
Did Nature lead him as before, 
The primrose on the river’s brim, 
A yellow primrose was to him. 
And it was nothing more.” 
In tropical countries the arborescent ferns are 
the most glorious objects in the vegetable king- 
dom ; and in temperate climes that man is little 
to be envied who cannot take delight in the 
phoenix-like beauty thrown over dead and decay- 
ing works of Nature and Art by these lovely 
forms, nor be led by these visible things of crea- 
tion to adore the invisible wisdom and admirable 
workmanship of Almighty God. 
But to return from this digression. Having 
determined the complete success of this mode 
upon more than a hundred species of ferns, and 
being converted into vineyards in the course of thirty or forty; and 
this by the comminuting action of its roots. Succulent plants are 
admirably adapted for such an office in hot and dry countries, where 
rain is of unfrequent occurrence, in consequence of their structure, 
which enables them to take in very readily moisture from dews or 
rain, but prevents evaporation during long-continued droughts. 
D 
