However, we need not be at a loss; this Helianthus, and statec or annual sunflower, is not only "True as the dial to the sun, Although it be not shone upon;" but enables us to form some estimate of the hour, even when the great luminary is invisible-an advantage which we cannot obtain from the dial. See, its large radiated disc already inclines westward, whence we may be sure that the afternoon has com menced: it will follow the setting sun, and at night, by its natural elasticity, will again return to the east, to meet the morning sun-beams. It was thought, that the heat of the sun, by contracting the stem, occasioned the flower to incline towards it; but the sensibility to light seems to reside in the radiated florets, as other similarly formed flowers, such as several of the Aster tribe, the daisy, marigold, &c. exhibit the same tendency, though not in so striking a manMany leaves likewise follow the sun, of which a clover-field affords a familiar instance. But the flowers we have enumerated, as they resemble the ner. fowers emitte the day, thus *horologe, or 1 six which po them into, 1 er or later, ac Pressure of the ing in the m er or later as sun in their form, seem to have a secret sympathyes, 3dly with its beams, in absence of which some will not certain and wipaid their blossoms at all; put, days they absorb such a quantity close of light, that they not give t emit it again in the evening in slight phosphoric tre hours of were first proceed from the Garden Nasturtion: subsequently M. Haggren, of Sweden, perceiving faint flashes repeatedly darting from Marigold, extended his ex a Observe this ong thorns, Sture, whence GRAVITIES. the sun, hone upon;" estimate of the hou y is invisible-an in from the dial. S dy inclines westwa the afternoon has co lowing flowers emitted flashes more or less vivid, in this order: the Marigold; Garden Nasturtion ; Orange Lily; African Marigold; Annual Sun-flower. Bright yellow, or flame colour, seemed in general necessary for the production of the light, for it was never seen on flowers of any other hue. It would have been well if every plant possessed as appropriate a name as the Helianthus; and if Ovid, in his notice of this flower, had always been equally fortunate in ting sun, and at adapting botanical qualities to poetical purposes.te i gain return to the es ams. -contracting the ste e towards reside in the radiata I flowers, such as serez t in so striking a llow the sun, of whi ar instance. But as they resemble sooner or later, according to the cloudiness, moisture, or pressure of the atmosphere. 2dly, Tropical flowers, opening in the morning and closing in the evening, earlier or later as the length of the day increases or ave a secret sympa diminishes. 3dly, Equinoctial flowers, which open f which some will at a certain and exact hour of the day, and, for the tity of light, that need not give the list, but can refer to their rewhile on hot cloude most part, close at another determinate hour. We 3 in slight phosphor spective hours of rising and setting, if we encounter were first observed any of them in our rambles. sturtion: subsequen ceiving faint flashes Observe this Pear-tree; in its wild state it has strong thorns, which have entirely disappeared from gold, extended his culture, whence Linnæus denominates such plants tum their lea been repeatedly re complicate sensitive plant als, Dr. Pen to suppose rity may be d mits now assi turning roun tamed, or deprived of their natural ferocity, as wildades, by whic animals sometimes lose their horns by domestication. The analogy between vegetable and animal life approaches much nearer than is generally imagined. Recent observation has traced the progress of the sap, from its first absorption by the roots, through the, and many central vessels of the plant, into the annual shoot,writers been leafstalk, and leaf, whence it is returned, and, de- doctrine of scending through the bark, contributes to the pro-es, Mad cess of forming the wood; thus describing a course, seed as fossil and fulfilling functions, very nearly correspondent toquent inves the circulation of the blood. There is something equivalent to respiration through the whole plant, the leaves principally performing the office of the lungs:-it has one series of vessels to receive and convey the alimental juices, answering to the arteries, veins, &c. of animals; and a second set of and son dies tracheæ, wherein air is continually received and expelled. It absorbs food regularly, both from the earth and the atmosphere, converting the most vitiated effluvia, in the process of digestion, into the purest air. The vegetable and animal parts of creation are thus a counterbalance to each other, the noxious parts of the one proving salutary food to the other. From the animal body certain effluvia are continually passing off, which vitiate the air, and nothing can be more prejudicial to animal life than their accumulation; while, on the other hand, nothing can be inore favourable to vegetables than these very effluvia, which they accordingly absorb with great avidity, and convert into the purest air. Plants are provided 'motion; but ro returns t branches at themselv coming spiral : the same kind Alone spiral tu creasing the pr diversity of among the bere grows o high. Sti VOL. I. M: GRAVITIES. natural ferocity, as wil horns by domestication with muscles, by which they open and shut their flowers, turn their leaves to the sun, even if they have been repeatedly folded back from it, and per ble and animal life form more complicated motions, as may be witnessed is generally image in the sensitive plants, the Dionæa Muscipula (or the progress of the s the Poots, through Fly-trap), and many others; nor have calm and reflecting writers been wanting who strenuously maintain the doctrine of a perceptive power in vegetables. As Corallines, Madrepores, and Sponges, formerly into the annual shoot t is returned, and, de contributes to the hus describing a course nearly correspondent There is something ough the whole plant ming the office of of vessels to receive ices, answering to ; and a second set ly, both from the ad nually received and ex ing the most vitiatel estion, into the al parts of creation a h other, the noxious ary food to the othe ir, and nothing can be e than their accumul , nothing can be mor these very effluvia b with great avidit Plants are provide on to wave sing from its the beautiful world, sat beside election of his of the water were both b astonished and , when, on the profoundest calm, the leaves of the Hedysarum tright be pl gyrans are in perpetual spontaneous motion; some ng but a bea rising, and others falling, and others whirling cir-sent reve cularly by twisting their stems. From these and other evidences of spontaneity, Dr. Percival infers that vegetables have a limited degree of sensation and enjoyment; that they have an inferior participation in the common allotment of vitality; and thus that our great Creator hath apportioned good to all things, " in number, weight, and measure." buzzing arou of Coltsfoot ous chorus, ine," of our s the luxurious ans. Honey apt insects, wh disturbing th substance fi Nerve what a leted on the as they c they call this tree, with not less fancy than propriety, ombs, se the Golden Rain. Was it from one of these trees that Jupiter climbed to the window of the brazen tower in which Danae was confined, and thus gave rise to the fable of his visiting her in a golden shower -Fix your eyes steadfastly upon the cup of this ad assist the while th wn. Lavend repared, as spection of t Narcissus growing at our feet, and by suffering your inlarly acet |