18 
VEGETABLE STRUCTURE. 
The skin of a plant has in addition to 
this structure certain orifices called stomata ; 
the root has a distinct arrangement of 
vessels in the spongioles or absorbent organs 
in contact with the soil. 
We can acquit Galileo of enthusiasm^ in 
his celebrated reply to the officers of the 
Inquisition^ on being accused of want of 
belief in a Supreme Being, when, pointing 
to a straw on the floor of his dungeon, he 
averred that from it alone he could infer 
with certainty the existence of an intelli¬ 
gent Creator. 
All the vital influences of vegetable life 
are carried on through the tubular vessels, 
and some minor organs; currents of nutri¬ 
ment, sap, and air, are continually traversing 
the cells and intercellular spaces; whilst 
particles of more solid form are floating to 
their destined post, to strengthen and sus¬ 
tain further expansions of creative power. 
The pores and vessels, though universal 
in their existence throughout the vegetable 
kingdom, are found to vary in size and 
arrangement; and these variations are suie 
guides to wide differences in the character 
of the plant. 
