consequence of this is, that some portion of
the carbonic acid gas previously absorbed
both by the leaves and other green portions
of the plant, escapes through the tissue
unchanged in its prejudicial character: the
fact is, however, unquestionably physical
rather than physiological; the old doctrine
of plants entirely reversing their respiration
by night is now known to be fallacy.

As we have previously applied the term
Paterfamilias to the leaf, it is only right
that we should explain the grounds on
which we have given him the patriarchal
character, for at first sight these may not
be very obvious. In the first place then,
at the base of every true leaf, that is
to say, on the stem immediately above the
leaf-stalk or petiole, will be found a bud,
consisting of a growing point or fixed embryo,
covered over most delicately with a series of
very small leaves for its protection. This is
the leaf's posterity, nurtured from his loins,
to become a scion when the parent's glory
has passed away. It may seem stranger to
speak of the leaf as father to the fruit; yet
such is really the case most unpoetically,
that is to say, most truthfully. The flower
consists of four whorls, or circles ot parts,
each a little above the other, the lower circle
being that of the green leaf-like bodies, the
sepals, forming in the whole the calyx; the
second consisting of the beautifully coloured
petals, constituting the corolla; the third,
long delicate stalks crowned with little
boxes which eventually emit a coloured
powder, the stamens; the fourth and central,
a body or bodies somewhat similar to the
former without the case, gibbous or swelled
at the lower portion, the pistil. Now, it will
be readily appreciated that the sepals are but
leaves in a different position; their anatomy
is that of the leaf, and their function
precisely identical. We have not much more
difficulty in imagining that the variegated
petal may be nothing more than a delicately-
formed leaf with different colouring matter
in its tissue, and we are organically right in
the supposition. How about the little
columns, however, pinnacled with their small
oval pounce-boxes, can these have any relation
with the leaf? Unquestionably, a very
close one. Guided still by anatomy to the
decision, the stalk of the stamen is, to all
intents and purposes, a leaf-stalk, its case
above really and truly a leaf-blade infolded
so that its edges meet. After this, may we
not readily believe that the pistil is nothing
more than a leaf-blade folded round to meet
at the edges? Its origin is that of the leaf,
it develops as the leaf would develop in
the same situation, the mark of union of the
edges, or ventral suture, is always apparent,
and when it is transformed, as it eventually
is, into the fruit, it frequently becomes very
leaf-like in its appearance, as in the pod of
the common pea. Moreover, it may be
mentioned that causes sometimes operate to
produce a retrogression of development, in
which case each of these parts actually
reverts to its original type, and becomes a
leaf. If, then, the pistil be a leaf, the fruit
or matured pistil can be nothing more. If
this be the case in the pea, it must be equally
so in the cocoa-nut, the plum, and the orange;
for it is scarcely likely that nature would
vary her laws for the fulfilment of the same
purpose in different individuals.

To complete our present gossip about
leaves, it must be explained, with reference
to the fruit, that botanists divide it into
simple and compound; the former, as in the
plum, the pea, and the almond, is formed of
one leaf only and presents along the face of
it the mark of the suture or junction of the
edges of the leaf; the latter is made up of
several leaves grown together, side by side,
as in the orange, each division in which is a
separate leaf or pistil. In the poppy, the
margins of the leaves have never grown
together, and the seeds are borne from the
sides of the projecting walls, instead of from
the line of junction of the leaf-margins,
as would otherwise be the case. Fruit divided
internally into several cells, is, for the most
part, compound; whilst that which consists
of but one cell should be simple. There are
numerous deviations from this rule, however.
The ripe cocoa-nut consists of but one cell,
although it is a compound fruit; whilst the
wild honey-pod, divided into many cells, is
simple. The former, however, is really made
up of three leaves, and originally contained
three compartments, but, from some invariable
peculiarity in its growth, one ovule or
embryo seed grows so rapidly in advance of
the other ovules in the neighbouring apartments,
as entirely to destroy them, and by
forcing down the walls, to perfectly obliterate
their chambers. In the wild-honey pod the
horizontal partitions are subsequent
developments from, the inner wall of the fruit-
chamber.

OUR, FAMILY PICTURE.

IN SIX CHAPTERS. CHAPTER THE FIFTH.

AFTER the first great burst of grief was
over, consequent on the bringing home of the
body; and when Doctor Graile and Olive had
departed; my father desired the rest of the
household to retire to their rooms, and obtain
what sleep they could.

"Caleb," he said, when we were left .alone,
"do you think it likely that Neville will come
home to-night?"

"There is no accounting, sir. for what he
may do while the present mood is on him."

"Then we must sit up for him. Take the
candles into the front sitting-room, and leave
the shutters unfastened, so that he may see
we have not retired, in case he should come
near the house. I will join you presently."

So my father and I sat up through the long
October night, waiting for Neville, who never