APRIL XXIII.

The Propagation of Plants.

IN general, vegetables spring from seed; and in most plants it is the flower or blossom which produces the seed, and makes it fruitful. Almost all flowers are folded up in a bud, where they form themselves secretly, and are guarded by their coat, and outside leaves. Then, when sap flows in abundance, particularly towards spring, the blossom grows large, the bud opens, the coat falls off, and the flower appears. At the outside some very small thin leaves are seen of different colours, which serve to defend the organs of fertility, and perhaps also to form the nourish. ing juice which enters into those parts. But it is, properly speaking, in the middle of the flower that the fruitful organs are found. There is a thread in it, or a little pillar called pistil, which rises pretty high, particularly in tulips. Round the pistil are the stamina, with heads at the top of them, containing a prolific dust of different colours. These stamina are properly the masculine organs, designed to make the seed fruitful, and the pistil is the female part of generation. It is in a manner the womb which receives the prolific dust.

Vegetables propagate also by ingrafting. From a tender branch of a tree, when in sap, they take an eye or a beginning of a branch, with a part of the bark, and they ingraft it into another tree; that is to say, they insert this eye between the bark and the wood, after which they gently tie up the whole, by rolling worsted two or three times round it. From that eye there comes a branch, which is of the same species as the tree from whence the eye was taken, though the tree

into which it is inserted and which is called wild stock) should be quite another sort. Trees and other woody plants are also perpetuated by slips. From a willow, for example, they take a slip, that is to say, a single stick or branch, and put it in the ground, after having cut off the little branches, that it may not in the beginning take too much sap. Roots soon shoot out of it in the places where it had beginnings of branches, and it becomes a tree.

Lastly, Vegetables also propagate by roots; but these must have eyes, or they will not shoot. Certain plants cast all around them trains, or long strings, which have knots or eyes in them. The knots lengthen their fibres in the ground, and become so many new feet, which may be sepa rated from each other, to make so many more plants. The root even is a sort of eye, in which the plant is inclosed; and it has between its leaves little eyes, so that it may also be propagated by the leaves, when the little eyes or roots remain fastened to them. What a train of causes must operate to produce vegetables, to preserve and propagate them. Supposing even that the seed pre-existed, what art does it not require to open them, to give growth to the plant, to preserve and continue the species? The earth must be a fruitful mother, in whose bosom plants may be placed and nourished conveniently. Water, which contributes also to the nourishment of plants, although in a less degree, must be composed of all those plants which are best calculated to make them shoot and grow. The sun must put all the elements in motion, and by its heat make the seed spring up and ripen the fruit. It was necessary to form a just balance and proportion between the plants, in order that they should neither multiply too fast, nor be too few in number. It was ne cessary that the texture, the vessels, the fibres, and every part of the plant, should be so disposed,

that the sap, the nourishing juice, should penetrate into it, circulate, digest, and prepare itself in such a manner that the plant should receive the proper form, size, and strength. It was necessary to fix exactly what plants were to spring up of themselves, and what were to require the care and culture of men. The work of the generation and propagation of plants is therefore so complicated, it passes through so many working wheels, as makes it impossible to discover the long train of causes and effects which produce it.

In all this I acknowledge thy wisdom and goodness, O adorable Creator! What other than Thou, could communicate to the elements the necessary virtue or power to perpetuate vegetables. It is Thou who hast given to the sun a proper size and heat to act upon our earth, and to make it feel its happy effects. It is Thou who hast created the constituent parts of which plants should be composed, and dispersed them in the air, the water, and the earth. It is Thou who hast fixed the laws of motion; who formedst the atmosphere, and thus produced rain, fogs, and clouds. It is Thou who quickenest the seed, and givest existence and growth to vegetables. Every year, by thy order, the earth again produces its plants. Every spring Thou renewest the face of nature, and crownest the year with thy blessings. Let the earth, as well as the heavens, declare the glory of thy great name, now and for evermore!

APRIL XXIV.

Variety observable in the Features of the Face.

IT is a very evident proof of the adorable wisdom of God, that, though the bodies of men are so like each other in essential parts, there is still so great a difference outwardly, that they can

easily be distinguished, without any mistake. Among so many millions of men, there are not two perfectly alike. Each person has something peculiar to himself, by which he may be known, particularly his face, voice, and language. The variety of countenances is so much the more wonderful, as the parts which compose the hu man face are but few, and are all disposed on the same plan. If a blind chance produced every thing, the faces of men would be as like as eggs laid by the same hen, or balls melted in the same mould, or drops of water out of the same river. But, as that is not the case, we must acknowledge on this occasion, as on every other, the infinite wisdom of the Creator, who, in varying the features of the human face so wonderfully, has manifestly had the happiness of mankind in view: for, if they resembled each other, so as not to be distinguished, it would cause continual inconveniencies, mistakes, and frauds, in society. We should never be sure of our lives, nor of the quiet possession of our property. Robbers and highwaymen would scarce run any risk of being discovered, if they could not be known again by the features of their faces, or by their voices. Adultery, rapes, and other crimes, would go unpunished, because the guilty could not be discovered. We should be every moment exposed to the malice of the wicked and envious, as we could not guard against surprises, frauds, and misdemeanours. What uncertainty would there be in the execution of the laws, in all sales, transfers, bargains, contracts! What confusion in trade! What frauds and subornments in regard to witnesses! Lastly, uniformity and perfect resemblance of faces would destroy most of the charms of society, and considerably diminish the pleasure we find in conversing with one an other. Variety of features, therefore, was to enter into God's plan of government. It is a

striking proof of his tender mercies toward us; and it is evident, that not only the general construction of the body, but also the disposal of the several parts, has been done with the greatest wisdom. We behold every where variety joined with uniformity, from whence results the order, proportion, and beauty, of the human body.

APRIL XXV.

God's universal care of his Creatures.

In

EVERY creature that lives in the air, in the water, or upon the earth, has its part in the care of a Divine Providence to which they owe their preservation. All the different beings live and grow, and multiply, each in its way; and, according to its powers, each fulfils the design for which it was placed upon earth. Animals void of reason are endowed with organs, strength, and sagacity, suitable to their several destinations. stinet warns them of what might be hurtful or dangerous; and enables them to seek, to distinguish, and to prepare, the food and habitation proper for them. All this is absolutely involuntary. It is not the result of reflection or choice. They are irresistibly led on by a propensity; which a Superior Power has given them for the preservation of their animal life.

They find the food and the retreats convenient for them; and no species of animals is destitute of what is necessary for its welfare and sustenance. Men are of a more excellent nature, but they are born in a more helpless state; and they re quire, beyond comparison, more assistance than most other animals; their wants, their faculties, their desires, are more numerous and greater; they are therefore distinguished by greater bless ings, and more marked attentions of Providence