son after season plants perish and add to the soil, and vegetable forms of a higher order gradually succeed each other in the sphere of progressive law. The vegetable principle gathers about itself the particles which assume the forms and shapes which the principle inspires. A seed is a highly carbonized body, consisting of integuments and embryo; between these, in most seeds, lies a substance called the albumen or perisperm. The embryo contains the elements of the future plant-cotyledons, the plumule and the radical-the former developing into stalk and leaves, the latter into roots. The embryo hides the living principle, for the development of which it is necessary that the starch and gluten undergo a chemical change, and that an elevation of temperature is produced. The seed is buried in the soil, when the genial showers of spring and the increasing temperature of the earth furnish the required conditions for this chemistry of life, and the plant eventually springs into sunshine. Thus we obtain evidence that even through some depth of soil, the solar power, whatever it may be, is efficient, and that, under its excitement, the first spring of life in the germ is affected, and that, during the process of germination, electricity is evolved. The calorific rays of the solar beam-to which the autumnal phenomena of vegetation appear particularly to belong, are of a peculiar character. They have been called the Parathermic rays, and exhibit a curious compound nature. Rays of different refrangibility have different illuminating powers, and they possess the chemical agency with different degrees of energy. To the peculiarity of these rays, we may infer the ripening of fruit and grain, and the browning of the leaf before it falls; and that the varieties of climate and the peculiarities of countries, as it regards their animal and vegetable production, are dependent on the same causes. If all plants were removed from the earth, animals could not exist. A mutual dependence exists between the animal and vegetable kingdoms. The animal produces carbonic acid in proportion to the quantity of carbonaceous matter which it consumes, and is constantly supplying it, and plants are constantly feeding on it. Thus the balance of power is constantly and forever maintained between the two kingdoms. Carbonic acid poured out from the thousand mouths of our fiery furnaces produced, during the laborious toil of the hard-working artisan, and exhaled from every populous town, is borne away by our ærial currents to find its place in the pines of the Pacific Islands, the spice-trees of the Eastern Archipelago, and cinchonas of South America. The plants of the Valley of Caucasus, and those which flourish among the Himalayas, equally with the less luxuriant vegetation of our temperate climes, are directly dependent upon man and the lower animals for their supply of food to replenish their luxuriant growth. Every kind of food contains its peculiar nerve or soul ether. Our food yields imponderable elements of their own peculiar qualities; so also with beverages, and not less with the airs and abounding ethers, that enter by means of inspiration; these are the dynamics that evolve the vital principle. Gluten is distinguished for its approaching more to the nature of animal matter than other productions of vegetation. Hence, wheat is the culmination of cereals, as it is the presence of gluten in wheat flour that gives it pre-eminence in nutritive power. The outside of the germ holds the lime or calcareous matter, while the interior furnishes the starch substance. These two build up the muscles and bones, and are found in better proportion in wheat than in any other cereal. It is impossible to comprehend the slow and gradual processes of nature which produced this crowning cereal. NATURE IS CONSTRUCTED UPON MECHANICAL AND GEOMET RICAL PRINCIPLES. No elements have been brought into being during the successive stages of formation that did not exist in the beginning; all the difference existing between the higher and lower substances is owing to a change in the forms and compositions of particles. It is impossible for any substance to assume any form above the angular as the first in formation. The angular is the first form of particles, and develops the circular, which, in their turn, unfold rectilinear planes, diameters, axes and poles, all of which are imperfectly discovered in the vegetable world. The angular is the parent of all higher forms, and contains them undeveloped; while the highest, when developed, pervades all the lower forms and unite them as one perfect whole. The anatomical or structural law and the physiological or functional law, operate with an omnipotent influence throughout the empire of nature. The anatomical principle breathes forth and clothes or incarnates itself in the countless forms which we behold upon the bosom of nature, and swimming in the shoreless seas of infinitude; the physiological principle is in constant association with the former, like an eternal companion, furnishing its elaborations with motions and forces adequate to the discharge of the varied duties for which those forms were made. There is a Divine vitalic principle which pulsates affectionately and intelligently through all life, whose operations are to us illimitable. This principle lives in and regulates unerringly the boundless empire of matter and the infinite domain of mind. Nature contains all the forces necessary to institute all the conditions, and to produce all the developments that occur in the earth and on its surface. The earth primitively was in an undeveloped condition. The first condensation produced granite; the second development was that of the fluid mass; the third being the ultimate of the last two was the atmosphere. During the lapse of innumerable ages, a coating of granite was formed, of nearly one hundred miles in thickness, all of which was before the gneiss and mica slate system made its appear ance. The age of the earth surpasses all computations. The great original mass was a substance containing within itself the embryo of its own perfection. The primordial germs of life originated in beds of mucus under the sea, which beds were composed of the finest particles of pulverized stone, united with carbon, oxygen, mineral and vegetable matter. The first pulsations of life originated in viscous substances or beds of viscous mud in which life was roused, where the Great Spirit accomplished the union of mind with matter. This embryotic substance might be called eggs, because they were laid by refined stones, mineral matter, and the process of incubation was carried on by means of electricity and magnetism. Electricity, cold, was inherent, while magnetism, warmth, emanated from the solar fountain. The whole mass was constituted a complete submarine electro-magnetic battery, out of which came forth the A B C of life and animation. Nature is filled with the vitalic principles, which, when the proper embryonic fluid is deposited, impregnate the procreative functions of one plant or animal to the development of an order superior. It is all accomplished through the spermatic principles. The sun gives a heat which is celestial magnetism. This heat, coming in conjunction with the moisture of the earth, So that generates an acid, which acid is a positive power. between the positive and negative poles, we have two vitalic or vegetative forces, which, by acting upon any suitable combination of particles, would, in the primeval ages of the globe, commence and perfect the first forms of vegetation. That is, the sun's magnetic ray operating upon the best matter of the earth, developed an acid, which is positive; this acid subsequently elicited an alkali from subterranean sources, which is negative; and these form the first vitalic germs of the fire weed, kelp weed, and all the lower orders of grass, and finally the identical grains which we daily consume. Every particle of matter possesses the same power which governs the universe. Thus in the stone you see the particles of the plant; and in the properties of the plant, the properties of the animal; in the animal you see man, and in the man you cannot see, but feel-spirit. The physical body is the spermatic foundation of the spiritual body. It is designed to mold, manufacture and prepare the spirit's body; we are every day and moment refining material for the manufacturing of that body which we will wear eternally. Tell me brother, what are we? Spirits bathing in the sea of Deity! MOTION PRODUCES PROGRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT IN ALL THINGS. Motion being the all-pervading principle, as derived from the great Positive Mind, becomes the creator of all rudimental and elementary substances. Therefore, motion is the principle which gives to the mineral compounds their peculiar form, texture and mode of existence. |