THE BEAUTIFUL LADDER. 
155 
be to search its vegetation or its animal life, 
the discoveries \ire shall make will abundantly- 
reward the searcher. 
“ The range of ocean-vegetation is immensely 
great, both as to extent of species and com¬ 
parative size, in the latter regard extending, from 
the most minute microscopic spores that cleave 
to its rocks and beds, to the mighty fucus, often 
three or four hundred feet in length. These 
aquatic plants are as varied in shape and color¬ 
ing as they are in extent. The ocean-gardens 
make up for the absence of flowers by a greater 
delicacy of stem, by feathery branches, and by 
a richness of tinting that is unsurpassed among 
the more favored flora that live in the glow of 
the sunshine. Those who have ever dipped 
these vegetable beauties from the sea-tides have 
enjoyed a rare sight. Many a home on the 
shore, where taste has found a votary, is adorn¬ 
ed with marine bouquets, perfect gems of rich¬ 
ness, made up of sea-moss, sea-silk, and other 
brilliant productions from the gardens of the 
ocean. 
“ When one has roamed long enough through 
these aqueous groves, then the endless paths 
of the coral continents will open invitingly be- 
