Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-10-16

no encouragement TO investigate. Man, and the little
experiments he make in the circle that en-
compass him, sink into nsgnifcance before the
ovepowerng considerations that force themselves upon
MS in the contemplation of these manifestations and
dIhcatOns of Almighty Power Silence becomes wis
dom. But whatever revelations the future has in
for u.s. 1t needs to tell that the clearer becomes
our vision of the wonderful scheme of creation, the
greater will be admiration Of the wisdom and good
ness that designed it, and Of the power that made and
u preserves it.
But return from this depression to that branch
OF our subject more Immediately before us. have al
ready said that practical chemistry had been nvestgat
ing the proper nutriment Of animal lle and the plants
which most abundauty supply it, and that important dis
coverles had followed these Investigations, peculiarly
valuable to the farmer who desires conduct his ope
ratons not only protaby but inteigiby. 1t is ascer-
tanned that among the edible plants there is great DIFF
ference in their capacity to provide for the subsistence of
man. They yield the principles Of nutriment very DIFF
feren proportions and this consideration is a most i'm
portant in the choice Of their culture or the bull
bous naturazcd in country the potato by far
the most valuable, analysis showing that onelourh of il
may be considered nutrive matter. The carrot the
parsnp the beet and the urnip less valuable but
still important objects of cultivation.
But the family Of the cereal grains is that which is
best adapted 20 the OF is by far the richest
in nutrve qualities, and has constituted the principal
article of human food among the civilized nations of the
world Analytical chemistry thus to add its test
mony general experience, and to make known to
of the OF the preference AT the head OF this
family is wheat whose Introduction into Greece
warded by the divine honors conferred the beneactor
of civilized man. and has accompanied him in his migra
tons around the globe 1t possesses greater proportion
of the nutritive principle than either of its congenors
than any other vegetable production known to Care
/ ful experiments have been made with view practical
results and tables prepared showing the nuriive proper
ties Of plants used food either for for the do
nestle animals 1t is curious well as interesting
subject Of inquiry and one which should engage the at
tenon of every intelligent farmer II lies at the very
foundation of agricultural Improvement.
The knowledge we have gained of the food Of plants
of of OH
vegetable physiology and its Investigations have opened
views in that great department of creation, leading
with other recent discoveries to the conclusion that there
is striking analogy existing between the two living
kingdoms of Nature, and that simplicity is no less at
tribute than wisdom in the works Of Almighty power
That some soils more favorable than others to the
production of PLANS and that their growth be stim
ulated by adventous substances, facts that expe
rience must have taught in the very earliest stages of
husbandry. But it reserved for late perod-for
own ndeed-to give rs a reasonable insight into some
of the principles of vegetable organization which regu
late the germnaton the growth and the decay of plants
and which enable to understand how may best aid
the operations Of Nature We know there are organs
performing their assigned functions, common to all vege
tatiOn, and essential to its growth and development
Having ascertained that plants require fool, and that
they proper to prepare and to convey
it to its destined work. where it is Incorporated, by
| process inscrutble to us, into hody we have
opened for inquiry into the nature and properties
Of this nutrmental matter, and of the pracca appca
ton OF the principles evolved TO the purposes Oi the lar
mer The functions of vegetable life admirable and
admirably performed, and forever in operation,
changed and successfully: upon world of vegetation
viii H. in its vast and variety and in the countless
subjects it contains, beyond the faculties OF man to
ceive, among the most wonderful displays OF creative
power Within the range OF personal vision, how vain
the effort to conjecture even the number of plants that
into life and then disappear TO give place to their
successors in this ceaseess round Of creative organza
ton But who shall count-who shall even dare to im
agne-how many individuals compose that mighty
Of vegetation which the face oil the earh and
trat ar O is lot
given to enter the threshold OF such work
II is before and within REACH but forever nacces
sible to
| By observation of the differences appreciale in the
structure and properties Of plants boanists have
ceeded in arranging them into separate classes by which
they brought, in measure, within our grasp
These classifcations are, however, artificial, though
founded on natural phenomena, and are designed in
troduce order into the consideration of vast subject
and thereby to facilitate acquaintance with it. The
roots the body the bark and the leaves OF the plants
and the flowers and fruits in the of fructfcation
are vegetable productions with which all Gaml-
liar. Much of the internal structurethe wood the ph
/ the sap, and the tubes-are equally well Known and
Of their functions have been long ascertaincd
rather conectured with reasonable certainty But
only recently that much progress has been made in this
branch of natural history and that beginning
understand not indeed the organic laws Of vegetable
e but many of the functions of vegetable organiza
on and the process by which the great work of produc
| tion goes on.
The ascent and descent of the sap, analogous the
els through which passes the functions Of the leaves
resembling those OF the lungs, by which the vital fluid is
divided between sets OF vessels transpiratory
to exhale its watey parts and the other secretoy to
conduct the residue after having undergone the
change through the proper vessels TO continue its pre-
scribed operations in The economy Of Nature the
of matter Of siicious substance, for
example, in the epdermis of plans-a these and other
discoveries have enlarged the sphere of knowledge
and have given satisfactory conceptions instead of
vain conectures, Of many operations in the progress of
vegetation. They promise yet brighter rewards for iu
iure exertons. The elaboration by plants Of different
substances contained in the sap and possessed OF var
Gus properties is truly wonderful process. We have
conception how the several vessels select from the
materials the proper almenary matter and reject
what unit how these elements enter into the
body and finally offer their services to man in new
om Investigations into the cellular structure OF plants
hold the prospect of important accessons to
present knowledge of vegetable physiology, connected
they with some of the most difficult questions con-
cernBg the organization and growth of vegetation The
cells it is conceded form the basis of all plants
Their mnuteness and the rapdity oil their development
equally beyond comrrehenson for it is estima
ted that they average but l500th part of inch IN d
ameter, giving than hundred millions to every
cubic inch and that in of the fungi they are gene
rated at the rate OF hftysix millions in minute Such
estimates .r beyond the grasp OF the human faca
ties, producing shadowy impressions rather than ade
quate conceptions; but, vaguely conectural they
must be, they yet sufficient satisfy that
world OF miracles from the cradle to the grave
not Of which perhaps it is given to fully to
prehend and that the wonderful processes by which this
mass of vegetation exists and is maintained govern
ed by laws that lie far beyond the present boundary Of
our knowledge. And these minute vesices are men,
braneous each shut from all Others and in plants Of
the lower order both absorbing and assmilatng, while
in those OF superior of the cells absorb
the nutrment while others incorporate il into the body
Of the plant The mind is lost in the effort conceive
the number Of these micro scopc agencies. in
hoxh r.