Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-06-20
A9rltnltural-
The Growth of Plants.

The m lltip .ic.tion OF cells, which is the usu.i
the following manner
The nutrient matter within The first or pa
rent cell forms secondary cells, which increase /
in srz- while the parent &c dissolves and dis |
appears. This process goes on so rapidly. IL |
some cases, that in certain species of mush |
room II l. said twenty thousand new cells art |
formed every minute. The multiform dsvel- |
opment OF cells, we have sad. produce the Va
rIous tissues Of vegetables Thus the produc-
ton of what are called last calls, in the book
of many plants, gives substances OF who;
COZ dage aud Various kinds OF cloth are made
such are hemp and fax, New Zealand fix,
&c.
Another development Of cells produces cork
which i The bark of species Of oak ant
sui another wood itself The colors Of plan:
with the exception OF green, which is founC
20 depend upon coIored grounds which adhers
10 the inside OF the cell walls arc due Il
the c0Iored fluids which are found in the ceiis
There is striking analogy between the result
OF The forced or rapid development If cells,
which Is often produced by stimulating meth
cd. Of cultivation IN ths growing of fruit trees
&C., and the species of mushroom referred I,
above. As that case the vegetable, and ID,
animal even as mas been said before, rapid,
hasrens TO decay And it seems quite prooabl.
that herein lies the cause Of m any If not all 81
the diseases TO which IN these I" evil days q,
says Carlyle, both vegetables and animals seen
subjected.
In our Investigations of the cellular structure
of plants meet with subject of curiou>
study in regard TO color, either as it exists il
the living growing plant or as applied in the
various processes of manufacture. For illu.-
tratIon, shall find 10 some cases, perhaps
that what We call fact coiors are colors fast hello
or i'm prisoned within the cell walls of the
veilcu.ly woven tissue, while in other Cases this
is due TO the no less mysterious law of chemical
affinity.
Albumin, gum, sugar, and moc acids, &C..
are found IL solution IN the cells and the
rious vegetable oils also. Aao her important
product of vegetables, starch, is found packed
away III cells In wheat and rye the starch
cells occupy the centre of the grain, while the
sx,-rual c-lls are filed with gluten. This sub
stance, giuter, IS much more nutritious than
starch hence bread which is made of what Is
usua |, regarded as inferior flour is often the
best.
We have thus glanced at some of the won
drous iac.s which the study of botany rsveal-
to In its very beginning. 1t will at once
be perceived, We think, that 1t Is very far from
beng II dry stud, lt Is too often regarded
We are we'll assured, as says AIphonse karr,
that it is thousand tines more interesting
when properly presented, 10 the young studenI
even. tnan those fascinating tales of magician
and gem which so delighted 10 our earl,
Years.
We have before spoken Of the doctrine of
the conservation of forces, in when the law OF
change only Is recognized as 1t regards the OPP
CITATIONS constantly going on around US 10 tn
natural world. The sun Is here the source OF
life aud motion be is the centre and power
by which IN our system, the revolving worlds
e hell the destined courses /" Let the So
lar rays tai upon d surface OF sand, the sand Il
heated, and hnaly radiales away As much 1t
receives; ct the same rays tall upon Lrtst
the quantity of heat given back less than
that received, for the energy of portion OF
the sumoeams is invested In the building of the
nees-every tree, plant, and flower grows and
jurIshes by tn grace and bounty OF the sun ;
the Lies OF the field his workmanship. the
verdure of the meadows, aud the cattle upon
a thousand hills
live carefully examine these deductic ms of sci
ence shall, perhaps, find they have prac,ic al
Value IN C 1unecIion with Investigations of
the laus upon which the science ard art of ag-
rlculture Is based. 1t is vel understood oy
ali that precisely the same results follow like
experiments conducted under the same cIrcum-
stances.
Suppose we apply to certain soil, which con-
tsins within itself sufficient of phosphate OF
lime, the Complementary substances Which, ac-
cordng TO NJ. Vile, go to make up a perfect
maaur--that is, heterogeneous matter, potassa
and lime, and obtain a large harvest if we ap-
ply tire same manure 10 other soil without q
similar result We should of course come TO the
conclusion that there were elements of differ
encs IN the soil or in the conditions under which
the experiment was tried.