The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-01-20
Under the MicrOScupr.

Perhaps you will think it almost iucrcdi
bic when tell you that plants breathe
But 1t is really 80. The leaves answer ia,
same purpose as the lungs, and arc lust as
necessary to life, and, what is more, this
breathing goes on mostly in the dark Whcl
plants are i'll Tie shade they take on carbon
thus improving TIL" air by its removal, and
making it better fitted for animal life. The
microscope shows us that there are a num-
per OF small openings in The under part OF
the leaf, which help the plant to breathe
ana 1t would be as impossible for these
functions in plants TO cease for a moment
without their dying, as ii would be for ami
mals to live without breathing. You sec,
then, that in the day time, when we nrc
busy and require II large supply of air, these
little plants help to make it of better
quality, because, the moment sun shines
upon them they cXhalc Oxygen; and at
night, when we arc sleeping, or resting
from orr labors, and we need less oxygen,
the plants take in their supply-givng il
over again for the benefit OF man ns he
wakes to new ncccssitics-thus, by the
removal of carbon and the renewal Of oxy
gen, Keeping the atmosphere in much
purcr state. You have heard Of the pollen
oi flowers, which the bee is so fond of
gathering to make her wax; look at il
under the glass, you would not believe wI,a,
variety of structure it has some of the
pretticst arc like little globes covered with
thistles. Then take down upon many kinds
or seeds, either on the top like little crown
or like wings DO you know what this is
al forI l., is to protect il, or that il may
Ioat away and drop more easily TO the spot
where ii is to spring up and grow. What
Il wonderful contrivan"c to increase vcgc,a-
Ole life This is the reason that in many Il
wild and unfrcqucntcd spot we find some
times such wealth of floral beauty.
You know that some kinds of ncttlcs are
very thickly covered with pnclllcs that
sting the flesh severely. Well, these
prlcklcs under the microscope look very
much like the stings of animas-hollow.
and terminating in very sharp point with
an opening at the end, at the very bottom
OF This cavity is tiny bag filled with nsorL
OF liquid, which upon being touched, is
sent through this opening and, upon enter
ing The llcSll, produces the pain you have
often felt, no doubt. NIosscs of all kinds
arc very interesting to look at and arc as
perfect in their lenvcs as the largest flower
grows; some that grow on the rocks are
wonderfully beautiful, yet they arc so conf
mon, and without flower, that they attract
but little attention and would seem alto
gether useless, but this is not the case.
Here, as i'll everything created, is infinite
wisdom and utility The MOSES shelter
ana Keep alive seeds and roots Of plants
which otherwise would die. They rive
food and shell crto many birds, and this is not
all for in their very decay they supply
nourlshmcnt to new generation of plants
ny iertilizing the soil and improving their
condition. In extremely cold climates,
where every other species of vegetation
would perish, upon the frozen earth and
rocks may bc found mosscs Of the richest
green. Homcly and insignificant and even
repuslvc objects arc often found, when cx-
amined, to consist of exquisite parts and to
DO beautifully adapted TO their proposed
ends, and will excite more interest and
wonder than you can readily imagine. On
every hand, in Gods wonderful crcation-
in every leaf, every flower, every living
thing-thc Fathers workmanship and the
manifestation Of His love and power arc
developed, even in the most minute objects
as well as in those of greater magnitude.