240 
THE LAMES' FLORAL CABINET. 
esting, for a report of which we are indebted to the 
Boston Evening Transcript: 
"F. L. Ames exhibited a large collection, comprising 
Cypripedium Dominii, with the sepals curiously pio- 
longed to the length of several inches: C. niveum, with 
prettily marked foliage and pure white flowers: Dendro- 
bium thyrsceflorum, with long racemes of flowers, the 
orange-colored lip contrasting with the pure white of 
the other petals, and a fine plant of Cattlcya Mossia\ 
full of its large, deep rose-colored flowers. The Odonto- 
glossum iwvillaricuin . from H. H. Hunuewell. was a line 
specimen. Hovey & Co. exhibited Anguloa Clowesii 
and Brassia verrucosa, both very curious; and R. M. 
Pratt's collection included several fine Orchids. Other 
fine plants were the Ixora fVilliamsii, from F. L. Ames; 
Erica ventricosa BotluriUiana and Anthurium Sclicrzc- 
rianum from John L. Gardner: the seedling Gloxinias 
from John B. Moore, and Yucca varicgata from Hon. 
Francis B. Hayes, President of the Society. The Xcrtcra 
depressa. or bead plant, from R. II. Pratt, was very 
curious. The now Pteonies from John C. Hovey were 
very large and of fine color, as were also the Clematis 
shown by President Hayes. 
The show of Strawberries was excellent, and, like tlio 
Roses, too uniformly good to admit of much particular¬ 
izing. The Sharpless took many premiums by its enor¬ 
mous size. The Jersey Queen was of good size and 
fiue quality. The Belmont, which took one of the 
special prizes, appears to give promise of great value. 
The Banquet—a new variety, shown for the first time— 
was thought of excellent quality. Tho Victoria Ham¬ 
burg and Black Hamburg Grapes from President Hayes 
were very flue specimens. Some specimens of the fruit 
of Xcphetium Litclii, grown by Charles Amory, at San¬ 
ford. Florida, were of much interest. This fruit, im¬ 
ported from China in a dried state, and known 
as Litclii. is found in our fruit stores, but fresh 
specimens have never been seeu hero before. The 
show of vegetables was excellent in quantity and 
quality.” 
FACTS ABOUT LEAVES. 
As is well known, a tree cannot grow without leaves. 
These are put forth every year, and are a contrivance 
for vastly increasing the surface. An oak tree of good 
size exposes several acres of surface to the air during the 
growing season. It has been estimated that the Wash¬ 
ington elm at Cambridge, Mass., not a very large tree, 
exposes about five acres of foliage, if we include both 
sides of the leaves. 
Leaves are more nearly comparable to stomachs than 
to lungs. A leaf is a laboratory for assimilating or 
manufacturing raw materials into plant fabric. The 
cellular structure of the leaves, wood and bark of a tree, 
is a complicated subject to treat in a popular way. 
It requires a vast surface of leaves to do a little work. 
By counting the leaves on a seedling oak, and esti¬ 
mating the surface on both sides of each, we can see 
how many inches are needed to build up the roots and 
stem for the first year. After the first year the old stem 
of the oak bears no leaves. It is dependent on the leaves 
of the branches, or its children, for support. 
A tree is a sort of community, each part having its 
own duties to perform. The root hairs take up most of 
the nourishment. The young roots take this to the 
larger ones, and they in turn, like the branches of a 
river, pour the flood of crude sap into the trunk, which 
conveys it to the leaves. The assimilated or digested 
sap passes from the leaves to all growing parts of 
the plant, and a deposit is made where most 
needed. 
If a branch is much exposed to the winds, the base of 
it has a certain support or certain amount of nourish¬ 
ment. So with the trunk of a tree. If the base of a 
branch or the main trunk is much exposed to the winds 
and storms, a much thicker deposit of food is made there. 
The winds give a tree exercise, which seems good to help 
make it strong. Our toughest wood comes from trees 
growing in exposed places. The limbs of a tree are all 
the time striving with each other to see which shall 
have the most room and the most sunshine. While 
some perish in the attempt, or meet with only very in¬ 
different success, the strongest of the strong buds sur¬ 
vive.— Prof. W. J. Beal's Lecture. 
THE HIDDEN WINGS. 
A dingy moth clung to a tree. 
As plain and homely as could ba; 
Dressed in a suit, from tip to crown, 
Of uninviting, muddy brown. 
The eye could just distinguish him 
Among the lichens on the limb. 
But as I looked, the insect flew 
And flashed on my astonished view 
A dazzling flame of color bright. 
Which had till then been hid from sight. 
Within the lives that do surround 
Our daily lives, are often found— 
Quiet and clinging by the hearth— 
Some souls we deemed of little worth. 
So well with all they harmonized 
We scarce their presence recognized: 
Until from our awakened sight 
The slighted blessing took its flight, 
Then, lifted up from common things, 
We saw, at last, the hidden wings. M. E. B. 
