Obrazy na stronie
PDF
ePub

JUNE XI.

Peculiarities in the Vegetable Kingdom.

THE difference between animals and vegetables is so great, that on a superficial view we do not perceive any resemblance between them. Some animals only live in water; others on the earth, or in the air; and some are amphibious, or capable of living either on land or in water. And this is literally the case with vegetables: some of them only grow upon land, others in the water; some can scarce bear any moisture; others live either in earth or water; and some even are found that exist in the air. There is a tree in the island of Japan, which contrary to the nature of all other trees, to which moisture is necessary, cannot bear wet. As soon as it is watered it perishes; the only way to preserve it in such a case, is to cut it off by the root, which is to be dried in the sun, and afterwards planted in a dry and sandy soil. A peculiar species of mushroom, some mosses, and other small plants, float in the air; but what is still more extraordinary, a branch of rosemary, which, as is the custom of some countries, was put in the hand of a corpse, sprouted out to the right and left so vigorously, that after a lapse of some years the grave being opened, the face of the defunct was overshadowed with rosemary leaves.

The vegetation of the truffle is still more singular: this extraordinary tubercle has neither roots, stem, leaves, flowers, nor seeds; it derives its nourishment through the pores of its bark. But it may be asked, how is it produced? Why is there commonly no kind of herb in the places where this species of mushroom grows? and why is the land there dry and full of crevices? These things have never been explained.

No plant so much resembles animals, as that species

of membraneous moss called nostoch: it is an irregular substance of a pale green colour, and somewhat transparent; it trembles upon the slightest touch, and easily breaks. It can only be seen after rain, and is then found in many places, particularly in uncultivated soils and sandy roads.

It exists in all seasons, even in winter; but is never 'so abundant as after rain in summer. The most remarkable circumstance about it is its speedy growth, being formed almost instantaneously; for sometimes if we walk in the garden in summer, not a trace of it is seen; when a sudden shower of rain falling, if the same place is visited in an hour, the walks are entirely covered with it. The nostoch was long supposed to have descended from the sky; but it is now known to be a leaf, which attracts and imbibes water with great avidity. This leaf, to which no root appears to belong, is in its natural state when impregnated with water; but a strong wind or great heat soon dissipating the water, the leaf contracts, and loses its colour and transparency: hence it appears to grow so suddenly, and to be so miraculously produced by a shower of rain; for when the rain falls upon it in its dried and imperceptible state, it becomes reanimated, and appears a fresh production.

We might readily enlarge the list of plants which bear a resemblance to animals; but there are other peculiarities in vegetables which solicit our attention. The whole atmosphere is pregnant with plants and invisible seeds, and even the largest grains are dispersed by the wind over the earth; and as soon as they are transported to the places proper for them to germinate in, they become plants, and often so little soil is necessary for this purpose, that we can scarcely conceive whence they derive the necessary degree of nourishment. There are plants, and even trees, which take root and grow in the clefts of rocks without any soil whatever.

Vegetation is sometimes very rapid; of which we have instances in mushrooms, and the common cresses, the seed of which, if put into a wet cloth, will be fit for a salad in twenty-four hours. There are plants that exist with scarcely any perceptible vitality. We often see willows, which are not only hollow and decayed within, but their external bark is so much injured that very little of it remains; yet from these seemingly sapless trunks buds sprout in the spring, and they are crowned with leaves and branches. It is truly wonderful that plants should not only imbibe nutriment by their roots, but that their leaves also should assist in this important function, by inspiring air; and an inverted tree will flourish, as well as when in its proper situation, for the branches will grow in the earth and become roots.

The advanced age that some trees attain to, is also very remarkable. Some apple trees are above a thousand years old; and if we calculate the amount of the annual produce of such a tree for the above space of time, we shall find that a single pippin might supply all Europe with trees and fruit. So extensive is this subject, that to follow it through all its ramifications would lead us on much too far for our present limits. All nature teems with wonders; every thing leads to an infinitely perfect Being, whose power, united to boundless wisdom and goodness, is continually acting for our benefit, and daily giving us fresh cause for gratitude and admiration.

How great and magnificent are Thy works, O Lord! What wonders crowd upon my mind! I view them with rapture, and am lost in the contemplation; they surpass my comprehension, I cannot fathom them. At thy command the grass shoots forth its green blade, and the woods are clothed with verdure; the flowers adorn the fields and beautify the gardens with their glowing colours; the tree lifts its tall head to the clouds, and the mountain cedar declares

Thy glory! Wherever I turn my view, new wonders delight me: the meadows, the mountains and the valleys, the rivers, the seas, and all, from the least atom to the distant spheres in the heavens, declare Thy goodness and display Thy glory!

JUNE XII.

Means of Happiness derived from Nature.

WE have only to consider the bond and connexion existing between man and all natural productions to be convinced that every thing throughout nature tends to his utility. For though there are many bodies whose use with respect to man we do not readily perceive, it is not reasonable to conclude that we derive no advantage from them. Many things, which in the days of our forefathers were considered as useless, are now regarded as benefits; and we may justly presume that our posterity will discover many things to be useful, of whose nature we are now ignorant. In this we may acknowledge the Divine wisdom, which has concealed from us the true use of many creatures, that we may be more humble by feeling the limits of our knowledge, and that our faculties may be continually exercised and improved by contemplating the works of the creation. Many productions of nature are only indirectly useful; for as some animals serve for nourishment to man, consequently whatever tends to their support must be useful to us. We find that many creatures are conducive to the nourishment of others; small fish are the food of larger; many birds feed on worms and insects; and there are many species which live entirely by prey. Here again the Divine wisdom is manifested; for if the produce of the fields formed the sole nourishment of

animals, there would not be a sufficiency left for the support of man.

There are some animals, as those of a venomous nature, which certainly are hurtful to man; and there are some poisons so powerful as instantaneously to kill; on which accounts, many creatures are regarded in a very disadvantageous light; yet, if we consider them more attentively, we shall discover traces of the goodness of God, and have cause to admire his wisdom. Physicians make use of many excellent remedies in the composition of which are substances of a poisonous nature. And can we suppose that man would be more happy if there were no venomous animals upon the earth? The poison that they bear is in part derived from malignant vapours, which man could not have respired without injury; and, in short, we may say with confidence, that there is nothing upon earth really injurious to him, unless he makes an improper use of it.

But if in the formation of the globe God had our happiness in view, are we not inexcusable in counteracting his gracious designs, by putting obstacles to our own felicity, instead of contributing to promote it by our most earnest endeavours? God's designs towards us are merciful, but we often render them ineffectual by a mode of conduct which necessarily makes us unhappy. Let us henceforth be wiser, and better profit by those various means of happiness with which it has pleased a gracious God to supply us so abundantly in the kingdom of nature; and as our desires are not completely satisfied by any thing this world can afford, let us look up to Heaven, the source of all good, and we shall feel our minds enlarged by the influence of a pure religion, which will teach us things of which we were before ignorant, and point out the true path to endless felicity!

« PoprzedniaDalej »