cept on such plants as are shielded from the inclemency of the weath er; even the green-house plants can scarcely be made to blossom

The leaves of the trees, and the stems of all annual plants, are also decayed; some hardy evergreens yet retain their cheerful verdure. At Christmas, the foliage of the laurel, pine, spruce, and the beautiful running, or ground-pine, (LYCOPODIUM,) belonging to the family of Ferns, are found in perfection, ready to welcome the anni versary of our Saviour's birth.

The custom of decorating churches with evergreens, is of very ancient date. On this subject, an English writer observes. "The evergreens, with which the churches are usually ornamented at Christmas, are a proper emblem of that time when, as God says by the prophet Isaiah, I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, and the myrtle, and the olive-tree; I will set in the desert the fir-tree, and pinetree, and the box-tree together." And in another place, "The glory of Lebunon shall come unto thee; the fir-tree, and the pine-tree, and box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious."

In the Romish church, which abounds in external observances of religion, it is customary to bear palm boughs in procession, on the anniversary of the day when Christ went into Jerusalem and the children strewed branches of palm-trees before him. In more northern latitudes, box, pine, olive, and willows are used as a substitute for real palms, which do not grow, as in Judea, by the waysides. The day on which this ceremony is performed, is called Palm-Sunday.

Superstitions with regard to the blossoming of Plants.

In the Romish church, many superstitions exist with regard to certain plants which happen to blossom about the time of some Saints' days. In Italy, and other countries in the south of Europe, where these superstitions first originated, the dead-nettle being in blossom about the time of St. Vincent's day, a martyr who suffered for Christianity under the Emperor Dioclesian, in the year 304, the flower is consecrated to him.

The winter hellebore is usually in blossom about the time of the conversion of St. Paul, supposed to be in commemoration of that

event.

The crocus was dedicated to St. Valentine, as it appears about the period of that Saint's day, which is regarded as peculiarly sacred to affection; St. Valentine is recorded to have been eminent for love and charity. One species of daisy appears about the time of St. Margaret's day; this is called in France, La Belle Marguerite, and in England, Herb Margaret.

The Crown-imperial blossoms in England about the 18th of March, the day of St. Edward, King of the West Saxons; nature thus, as was imagined, honouring the day with a royal flower.

The Cardamine, or our Lady's flower, distinguished for its pure white, is dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

The Mary-gold, so called from a fancied resemblance of the florets of its disk to rays of glory, is also consecrated to the Virgin.

On the day of St. George, the patron saint of England, the blue bells, there called field hyacinth, tinge the meadows and pastures with their deep blue colour; they are thought to afford an enblem of the empire of the ocean, over which England assumes the rule.

Decorating churches with evergreens-Palm-Sunday-Superstitions in the Romish church with regard to the blossoming of certain plants-Plants dedicated to certam Saints.

The St. John's-wort blossoms near that saint's day. The scarlet Lychnis, called the great candlestick, or candle, (CANDELABRUM ingens,) was supposed to be lighted up for St. John the Baptist, who was a burning and a shining light. The white lily expands about the time of the annunciation, affording another coincidence of the blossoming of white flowers at the festivals consecrated to the mother of Christ. The roses of summer are said to fade about the period of St. Mary Magdalen's day.

The passion flower is said to blossom about Holy Rood day. A lusions to this day being frequently found among writers of forn er days, it may be well to inform you that according to the legends of the Romish church, the cross on which our Saviour was crucified was discovered in the year 326, by Helena, the mother of Constan· tine, who is said to have built a church on the spot where it lay The word Rood signifies the Cross; thus this day is the day of the Holy Cross.

It was during the middle ages, when the minds of men were influenced by the blindest superstition, that they thus imagined every operation of nature to be emblematical of something connected with their religious faith. Although these superstitions are trifling and absurd, they are interesting as connected with the annals of the human mind, and as showing us the origin of many names of plants. Had the superstitious monks and nuns, who were the authors of these conceits, and at that time the most learned part of the community, been possessed of as much knowledge as most children in our country, they would have known that plants bloom earlier or later, according to various circumstances of climate; and that a flower which in Italy blossoms as early as February, might not appear in England before April; while the day of the Saint which the flower was supposed to commemorate, would occur at the same time in both places.

Phenomena of Plants, arising from changes in the atmosphere.

Plants exhibit some phenomena which are supposed to arise from the state of the atmosphere; accurate observers of nature have made remarks upon these changes, as prognosticating certain changes of weather. Lord Bacon, who was remarkably attentive to all the appearances and changes of natural objects, is the author of the following observations.

"Chickweed, (Anagallis.) When the flower expands boldly and fully, no rain will happen for four hours or upwards: if it continues in that open state, no rain will disturb the summer's day; when it half conceals its miniature flower, the day is generally showery; but if it entirely shuts up or veils the white flower with its green mantle, let the traveller put on his great-coat, and the ploughman, with his beast of draught, expect rest from their labour.

"Siberian Sowthistle, (Sonchus.) If the flowers of this plant keep open all night, rain will certainly fall the next day.

"Trefoil, (Hedysarum.) The different species of trefoil always contract their leaves at the approach of a storm; hence these plants have been termed the husbandman's Barometer.

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African Mary-gold. If this plant opens not its flowers in the morning about seven o'clock, you may be sure it will rain that day, unless it thunders.

"White thorns and dog-rose bushes. Wet summers are generally

Holy Rood day-Ignorance of the monks and nuns-Various phenomena of plantsLord Racon's observations-Changes of flowers indicating changes of weather.

attended with an uncommon quantity of seed on these shrubs, whence their unusual fruitfulness is a sign of severe winter."

Besides the above, there are several plants, especially those with compound yellow flowers, which during the whole day turn their flowers towards the sun, viz. to the East in the morning, to the South at noon, and to the West towards evening. This is very observable in the sowthistle, Sonchus arvensis; and it is a well known fact. that a great part of the plants in a serene sky expand their flowers and as it were with cheerful looks behold the light of the sun; but before rain they shut them up, as the tulip.

The flowers of the chick-wintergreen (Trientalis) droop in the night, lest rain or moisture should injure the fertilizing pollen.

One species of woodsorrel shuts up or doubles its leaves before storms and tempests, but in a serene sky expands or unfolds them, so that husbandmen can foretel tempests from it. It is also well known that the sensitive plants, and cassia, observe the same rule.

Besides affording prognostics of weather, many plants fold themselves up at particular hours, with such regularity as to have acquired names from this property. The following are among the more remarkable plants of this description.

Goatsbeard. The flowers of both species of Tragopogon open in the morning at the approach of the sun, and, without regard to the state of the weather, regularly shut about noon. Hence it is gener ally known by the name of go-to-bed-at-noon.

The four o'clock, (Mirabilis,) sometimes called Princess' leaf, is an elegant shrub in its native clime, the Malay islands. It opens its flowers at four in the evening, and does not close them till the same hour in the morning. It is said people transplant them from the woods into their gardens, and use them as a dial or clock, especially in cloudy weather.

The Evening Primrose (Enothera) is well known from its remarkable property of regularity, shutting with a loud popping noise about sunrise, and opening at sunset. After six o'clock, these flowers regularly report the approach of night.

The Tamarind-tree, the water-lily, (Nymphaea,) the mary-gold, the false sensitive-plant, and several others of the Diadelphia class, in serene weather expand their leaves in the daytime, and contract them during the night. According to some botanists, the tamarindtree infolds within its leaves the flowers or fruit every night, in order to guard them from the cold or rain.

The flower of the garden lettuce opens at seven o'clock, and shuts

at ten.

"A species of serpentine aloes, whose large and beautiful flower exhales a strong odour of the Vanilla during the time of its expansion, which is very short, is cultivated in the imperial garden of Paris. It does not blossom until towards the month of July, and about five o'clock in the evening, at which time it gradually opens its petals, expands them, droops and dies. By ten o'clock the same night it is totally withered, to the great astonishment of the spectators, who flock in crowds to see it.

"The cereus, a native of Jamaica and Vera Cruz, exhibits an exquisitely beautiful flower, and emits a highly fragrant odour for a few hours in the night, and then closes to expand no more. The flower is nearly a foot in diameter, the inside of the calyx of a splendid yellow, and the numerous petals are of a pure white.

Plants which turn towards the sun-Plants which hang their heads at night and in storms-The go-to-bed-at-noon-The four o'clock-Evening primrose-Tamarindfree &c.-Aloes-Night-blooming Cereus, &c.

"The flower of the dandelion possesses very peculiar means of sheltering itself from the heat of the sun, as it closes entirely whenever the heat becomes excessive."

Linnæus enumerated forty-six flowers which possess this kind of sensibility; he divided them into three classes.

1. Meteoric flowers, which less accurately observe the hour of folding, but are expanded sooner or later, according to the cloudiness, moisture, or pressure of the atmosphere.

2. Tropical flowers, that open in the morning, and close before evening every day, but the hour of their expanding becomes earlier or later, as the length of the day increases or decreases.

3. Equinoctial flowers, which open at a certain and exact hour of the day, and for the most part close at another determinate hour.

LECTURE XL.

HABITS OF PLANTS-AGENTS WHICH AFFECT THEIR GROWTH-THEIR HABITA TIONS, AND GEOGRAPHICAL SITUATIONS-ELEVATION CORRESPONDING TO LATITUDE.

THE Constitution of plants and animals seems to fit them for par ticular climates, and for digesting food of a certain kind. The plant cannot, like the animal, rove about in search of food best suited to its nature, but, fixed in one spot, must receive the nourishment that there offers itself. If this nourishment is too abundant, the vessels becoming loaded with excess, cease to perform their accustomed functions, and the plant dies of surfeit; if, on the other hand, the food offered is too little, or not sufficiently nourishing, the plant dies of starvation.

Yet plants may be brought to live in climates, and on food, not naturally suited to their constitutions; or in other words, their habits of life may be changed. Although we may suppose that many things now necessary to our comfort, and even our lives, are ren dered so by nature; yet if we reflect a moment, we shall see that many of our own wants are the result of habit. Did you never see the children of poor parents running about in the snow with bare feet, and apparently much more vigorous than the little master and miss whom the winds of heaven are not permitted to visit too roughly? Why does this difference exist between individuals of the same species? It is owing to habit. Thus, we may see lingering upon the verge of a northern winter, the nasturtion; but the same temperature which it bears without injury, would at once destroy those of the same species which have only lived beneath a tropical sun.

In changing the habit of a plant, or, as it is frequently termed, naturalizing it, the temperature is the principal thing to be considered; although the soil and the quantity of moisture should be rendered as similar as possible to those of its native habitation.

Plants from warm climates are gradually accustomed to a lower temperature by placing them in hot-houses, then in green-houses, and astly, in the open air. While the plant is going through with this kind of discipline, an opportunity is afforded of observing the kind of soil most favourable to its growth, the quantity of moisture which

Meteoric flowers-Tropical-Equinoctial-The constitution of plants fitted for particular climates-Remarks on their habits of life-Temperature considered in the noturalization of plants-Observations necessary in the process.

it requires, the degree of light which seems necessary, and the kina of exposure, as to winds, which appears most favourable.

Plants vary much in their susceptibility of naturalization. The horse-chestnut, which is now common in the middle and northern United States, was originally brought from the tropical regions. In these regions, however, it usually grows in grounds somewhat above the level of the sea, and therefore its habit, as to temperature, renders it in some degree fitted for more northern countries. Orange and lemon-trees cannot be brought to bear the roughness of our cli mate, without some protection.

In many cases, perennial plants by this change of climate are converted into annual ones; as if fearing the inclemencies of a cold winter, they pass through their successive stages of existence with rapidity, and accomplish in one summer what they had been accustomed to require years to perform. The nasturtion was originally a perennial shrub, flourishing without cultivation on the banks of the Peruvian streams; yet, transferred to this country, it is an annual herbaceous plant, which completes its term of existence in a few months.

The acclimating of some plants is with difficulty accomplished, and it is by slow removals that they can be made to grow in foreign situations. Rice by a slow progress has advanced from Carolina to Virginia, and it is now cultivated in New Jersey. The habits of Indian corn, aided by climate and culture, have suffered a still more remarkable change. After having been for several years raised in Canada, it arrives to perfection in a few weeks, and on that account is employed by us as an early corn; but that which has been long cultivated in Virginia, will not ripen in a New England summer; yet originally, the early corn of Cañada and that of Virginia were the same, both in habit and other properties.

While merely ornamental or curious plants can with difficulty be made to vegetate freely in foreign situations, the vegetables most useful to man are disseminated and cultivated. The delicate exotic flowers often disappoint our expectations; but the wheat, the potato, and corn, which are also exotics, seldom are withheld from the labour of the husbandman.

Thus should earthly parents, imitating their "Father in heaven," first provide their children with what is useful both for body and mind, leaving the ornamental to be bestowed or not, as circumstances may render proper.

Agents which affect the growth of Plants.

Of the various substances by which vegetables are nourished, water is thought the most important. Some plants grow and mature with their roots immersed in water, without any soil; most of the marine plants are of this description.

Atmospheric air is necessary to the health and vigour of plants; if a plant is placed under a glass into which no air can enter, it withers and dies.

Most plants are found by analysis to contain a certain portion of salts, such as nitre and muriate of soda,* or common salt. It appears that the root absorbs them from the soil by which it is nourished.

* According to modern chemistry, chloride of sodium.

Plants vary in susceptibility of naturalization-Some plants change from perennis. 10 annual-Rice and Indian-corn-Agents that affect the growth of plants-Water.Jnospheric air-Salts.