Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-01-15
STAR
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE

VEeKrArIoN-A lecture delivered at the
Smlthsonisn Institution, on Friday evening,
by Professor Asa Gray, of Harvard UNIVERSE
y.-Vegetation consists of an axis, growing in
opposite directions; all which grows down
wards belongs to the roots, while all that
part that ascends belongs to the stem The
stem consists Of . succession of Joints ono
growing from the summit OF the other, the top
joint bearing from its apex a leaf or pair of
leaves, from the axil of which springs a bud
which may, if not pulled, produce branch.
Throughout all vegetation these two forms
are alone formed, and one Of these forms inva.
riably occurs, though they may be disguised
so as to deceive those who do not search with
care
The subtsrranean forms Of the stem are
most disguised. Often branches start beneath
the surface. run horizontally for a shsut dis
lance, and then reappssr. While under ground
they lose their green color, and bear no real
leaves, but in place of them bud scales If
these branches be severed from tie main root,
they Immediately send up a stem from the bud
at the axil of the scales, and strike roots Of its
own deep into the ground, thus becoming an
independent plant. This is seen in the quick
grass
These plants are still moro difficult to de-
stroy, when, instead Of expanding all nourish-
ment they have gathered in the course Of q
season in extending their surface, they store
it in their roots, az in the beet or ,urnip-in
tubers, as in the aItichoke and potatoe; or in
the bases of the leaves. as in dubious plants
1t il sometimes asked, what is the design of
dubious vegetation? Although plants are
formed on the principle of extent Of surface,
bulbs combine that property above ground,
during the season ia which usual vegetation
can exist, with a provision under ground
against drouth. They are natives of hot dry
countries, where the rain falls but seldom;
and when the dry season commences, bulbs
remain in . state of rest as complete as that of
the water lilly in our present frozen soil; ana
though their leaves are dead, the bulb sustains
the drouth intact Its ephericsl form presents
the least possible surface for evaporation and
its structure consisting Of many layers of tieshy
coats, the outer one dry, husky. and 6berous,
therefore poor conductor Of heat-enables it
to hold the moisture it has obtained during
the wet season with great tenacity, until the
aims come on again. Then flowers and foliage
shoot forth from the buds and the desert of
burning sand becomes gay with blossoms almost
instantansously. They are also adapted to
iatitudes whore tho climate is doubly severe,
where vegetation as to undergo first a hot,
dry season, ard then intense cold
The same end is brought about by storing
nutriment above ground, in the leaves or stem,
a. in plants OF the cactus family.
Few largo trees are found in the frigid
cones, on account of tie intense cold Those
countries alone whore the rain is equally dis.
tributed through the year abound 10 luxurians
forests.
The speaker now described the leaf as an
expspsion of the green bark Co the stem, sup
ported by frame work of woody fbres, filed
with green pulp and hollow ribs. and veins for
the circulation of the sap. This pulp assists
in the digestion of the crude sap, which ascends
from the earth through the roots Ii consists
of minute waxy grains, in heaps or floating in
q weak mucilage-all this is contained in
small cells.
The epidsrD,is, or skin of the leaf consists
OF compact calls. sometimes in tive or three
lsyers, the latter &c resist evaporation
The arrangement for evaporation, as it be-
which are mostly on he under side o. the leaf.
They exist in great numbers. On the apple
leaf there are $4,000 to the square inch, or
loo, 0G0 on each leaf
EXCHANGE IS NO RoBBERY-We can not sub
scribe to this axiom, and many Of those who
attended tie Presidents lsvce on Friday
night last, we dcuet not, are equally opposed
to the principls We learn tn It on that COCA
sion numsrOu' exchanges took place, which
was not confined 10 hats only, but to overcoats;
and what is most singular, the parties th at
make these accidental exchanges managed to
possess themselves OF = better article A sem-
ber Of Congress, On leaving the reception
room, wont to look after his hat, and after ex-
aiming what remain ed there, (about dozen.l
all pretty we'll worn, and some without even
crowns 10 them, remarked to the attendant
Well, suppose l must take one of these in
place of the new one which / bought yester-
day; and with that he fixed one on his head
which might truly be called g a shocking bad
hat" There are some fellows who make a
practice Of this game, and it would be we'll at
the next levee to have one of our efficie Mt DO
lice in attendance there, who, no doubt would
recognize these characters.
FIRRs.-Last Saturday night, between ten
and eleven o'clo; TX, fire broke ous in the
stable of Mr. George Fa5naught, on Fifth near
p street, which destroyed the stable and cOn-
tents. We regret that this young man should
be so unfortunate as 10 lose his horse with the
stable; as his horse was an important aid to
him in his business.
On Sunday morning, near one o'clock, fire
was discovered in the blacksmith and wheel
wright shops Of Mr. Ford On Seventh street.
corner OF New York avenue 1t was entirely
destroyed. Both of the above frss are sup
posed TO be incendiary acts.
Another alarm was caused ny the burning
of a barn, belonging TO MIR Rushford, near
Alexandria, Va. The hose division of the
Franklin Fire Company, won't down to this
FIRE.
Another alarm was caused by the ringing
Of the Franklin bell, TO collect members to
bring their suction to the city, it having been
obliged to stop on account of the muddy road
and small force.
The SABBArH.-We ought greatly to rejoics
in living under government where this insti-
tuition is SO we'll observed Our city, we are
proud to say, regards it moot particularly
Yesterday was fine bracing day. and all our
churches were well attended At the Presby-
terrain church on Four and a. half street there
was q large congregation, among whom We no.
tieed the President and his lady, both looking
remarkably we'll, Senators Cass and Rockwell,
Capt. Gibson, who suffered a long imprison-
ment in the East Indies, and other notab!es
Rev.By Sunderland preached, as usual, a
most effective and eloquent sermon, which
thrilled the heart Of all his hearers
AHUsEMENTs Our city, a. tbs season If
the year, was nsyer known 10 be 80 barren of
entertainments as al present. ~ feel assured
that if some energetic and erterprisipg per.
aop Uas tn oman the NafiopaI ,gitb nv,