The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1869-09-21


From every point Of the growing cob,
on which grain Of corn is to set. tu-
bular fibre Of silk begins to grow, and it
grows on close along the side of the cob
fibres of silk unite together, there being
just as many fbres in the whole number
as there are to be grains of corn on that
ear. Then, some pollen from the tassel
must fall on every fibre of the silk, be
absorbed by it, and conveyed thro' its
tubular structure, to the point at which
the silk began to grow, otherwise there
will be no grain at that place. The pol
len need not come from the particular
stalk upon which the ear is growing !;
that from a aaeighboring stalk will answer
the purpose just as we'll. And expert
ence has proved that it is best to plant
Indian corn in a body of adjacent hills,
in order that the atmosphere may be-
come filled with the floating particles Of
pollen, the continual falling of which
deposits some on every fibre of the silk,
thus fertilizing it; whereas, where a sim
gle stalk exists, the wind may blow the
pollen away, SO that but few fibres of
the silk will become impregnated, and
consequently but few grains will become
perfected in the ear. Now, the point is
what causes the silk to begun to grow in
tubular fibre at that point, and contin-
-, &ho
when it has received the pollen, conduct
it back to the point at which the growth
of the fibre commenced And all un-
erring and everlastingly the same!
Again, when there comes a storm
about the caring time, and blows the
corn down, it will be found, in a little
time, that growths are putting ont at
different points some distance above the
root, and on the side of the stalk to>
wards the ground, growing longer and
longer downwards, till they reach the
earth, where they fix themselves firmly,
and then lengthen out, thus pushing the
stalk up, raising the ear into the air and
light, and favoring its maturing! What
wonderful wisdom and design! Now the
point of interesting inquiry is,. what
makes it thus, as if possessed Of a resi-
dent intelligence, put out these stays
just at those points, and then, when fix
ed on the earth, lengthen them to push
mp the stalk, and this over the whole
field, with all the skill and efficiency
which the most ingenious workman
could devise with his attention confined
to single stalk?
Many animals shed part Of their
coat in the spring, when the weather be-
comes warm, so as to have thinner
coat through the summer and then
when cold weather comes on in the fall,
ust as a kind and good parent gives
thicker coat to his son to keep him warm
in the winter, the coats of these animals
are thickened up with fur when the
weather gets cold, and this fur becomes
thicker and thicker with the increase of
the severity Of the weather, the animal
being thus protected in comfort and
health what performs all these and
thousands of other operations equally
astonishing, for promoting and securing
the comfort and protection of the ami,
mails, and which are wholly beyond the
reach of the animals to obtain for them>
selves?
When hen sets on her eggs. what
causes the particles of matter of which
that egg is composed to arrange them
selves in that wonderfully complicated
structure of the chicken, forming the
heart, eyes, ears, bones, liver, gizzard,
wings, legs, blood-vessels and blood in
these vessels, and all its organs and
parts And so inquiry might proceed
on and ON interminably.
Gall we behold is miracle but
So duly, all is miracle in vain."
Some persons attempt to explain all
these wonderful phenomena and pro-
cesses in the animal and vegetable
kingdoms by attributing them to the
obedience of the particles of matter to
LaaU: the Law of matter'-sLaw of Life
Law of Development-'Vital or Or
ganic Law But matter possesses in
itself no power to obey law. Nothing
can obey law in such sense which has
not the power to disobey it. Matter can
not work intelligent obedience and de-
sign, such as are manifested in those
operations. Obedience is active and
positive compliance with what is re-
quired. Hence, with the existence of
power to obey, must necessarily co-ex
ist power to disobey. No such power
is possessed by matter in any form,
whether organic or inorganic, nor is it
capable of receiving and retaining it. 1t
is wholly passive under that great con-
trolling Power and Intelligence which
created, regulates and sustains all things
and is the Life of all that lives and
the Mover of all that moves. No ade-
quate agency, other than the immediate
and continued action of the First Great
Cause of ali things, can be assigned for
the exercise, control and direction of
such varied, important, unerring, be
nevolent and wise movements and pro-
cesses as exist throughout the whole
range of vegetable and animal econo-
my.
"Some say that in the origin of things,
When all creation started into birth,
The infant elements received law
From which they swerve not since. That under