Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-08-08
THELAw OF GROWTH.

In sermon on "Law-the first Principle of
Spiritual Liberty" Horace Mann introduced
the following beautiful illustration:
Did you ever observe the law by which each
leaf of the deciduous tree has joint near the
stalk where it is attached and by means of
which joint it is mixing preparation, all the
time it is growing, for dropping off as soon as
its functions as living organ are performed
Did you ever observe the wonderful arrange
ment of the leaves of trees by which their at
tachment to different sides of the tree can be
expressed arthmetically? Thus if you mark
the point at which one leaf starts out from the
trunk or branch OF certain kinds Of trees, you
will see that the next leaf above it is exactly
on the opposite side, so that the third one is
over the first, the fourth over the second, and
so on--each two leaves being equal to one turn
around the tree as you ascend. This is arith-
metically expressed by the fraction of one half;
because each new leaf makes half turn around
the tree. In the plant called succory, it takes
three leaves to make this spiral turn around the
stalk so that the fourth leaf comes perpendic-
ularly over the first, and begins new turn.
As it takes three leaves here to make one turn,
we denote this by the fraction of one-third.
In the apple-tree, five leaves or buds make two
turns around the tree, so that this fact is ex-
pressed by the fraction two-fifths. In the
currant- bush eight leaves make three turns, so
that the ratio here is three-eighths. In the plant
called shepherds purse, it is five thrteenths
and in another still, twenty-one successive
leaves, as YOU ascend spirally around the tree,
require thirteen turns. And here another
most curious fact is observed that these several
numbers form ascending series in which the
demominator Of the preceding fraction is the
numerator of the succeeding one; and the de-
nomination of the succeeding one is the sum OF
the two preceding denominators. Thus start
ing with l-2 and l-3, we then have 20 5-S,
S-l3, 13-2lsts, and so on. Here, as YOU will
Sc, the denominator of 2-5ths is the numerator
of 5-Sths and the denomnator of the 5-Sths, is
the numerator of the S-l3ths, and the denomi-
nator of the S-13ths the numerator of the 13-
2lsts. So you will see the other wonderful fact
| mentioned that the succeeding denominator
is equal to the sum of the two preceding de-
nominators. Thus, l-2, Is, 2-5; and 3=5 ;
1-3, 2-5, 5.S 8 and 5=S; 3-5, 5-S, S-l3
5-S=l3; 5-S, S-13, 1921 and 1921. In
this last statement there is one apparent an
omaly too subtle for explanation on this occa-
sion, though adding to the beauty of the result.
Now this exemplifes, in botany, what mean
by lar 1t applies to the osebud, the oak
leaf, the pine-cone; and though we can conceive
of other methods of arranging the leaves, on
plants and trees, yet such other methods are
nowhere to be found in nature.
And it is phenomenon hardly less worthy
Of note, that if, in the position to which leaves
and petals belong, they find an obstruction to
their development, such as deficiency of light,
for instance, they will strive to find some other
way, and turn aside and avoid or surmount the
obstacle. Do we do so, when we encounter
obstacles in obeying Gods moral laws? Like
the little blind germs of the leaves, imbedded
in darkness beneath the bark of the tree, do we
strive to reach outward, and bask ourselves in
Gods moral lightp