THE POWER OF PLANTS.

Evening Star, Issue 3124, 22 February 1873, Page 3

THE POWER OF PLANTS.

Alluding to the law which impels nature, however baffle t, to put forth a constantly renewed effort to resume sway oyer all portibns'of thfe earth, Jfearth and Hopit (a New York journal) incidentally cites several examples illustrating the almost marvellous force a growing plant or tree can manifest. Here is obe of them:—

A neighbor Wi>s at much pains to lay an asphalt walk in the mo?t pei feet manner. The walk of coaltar and gravel was a complete success, and apparently as hard as stone. What was his dismay to find one morning a sadden bulge in the walk of which he was so proud ! He attributed it to imperfect workmanship ; but the next morning the cause of the disfigurement revealed jtsplf. A piepe of ijie wilk; several inches across, was scaled *ff, where the former bulging had appeared, and underneath was found the source of the mischief —a common puff-ball Had we not seen this, we should have found it difficult to believe that a mere fungus, the tissues of which are so soft that they can be crushed by the fingers, could exercise such a wonderful fore®.

A tree is mentioned which, gaining foothold in the slight cleft of a rock of many tons weight, has, by gradual process of development, separated the huge mass into two dirtinct parts. It is certainly strange that a tree, in its beginning mere soft pulp, should be able to accomplish more than the combined power of 10.000 men. The remark of an observing frieud is quoted to the effect that, should the city of New York bo suddenly depopulated, it would, iu less than ten years, become an impenetrable thicket from the growth of the Ailanthus and Abale or Silver Poplar, and these uhl undermine and bring to the ground the most noble buildings of which wc boast. Not only the higher hut the lower foi ins of vegetation are ever ready to engage in the work of destroying our “ enduring monuments.” In tropical climates, vegetation most rapidly resumes its reign when not opposed by the constant warfare of man, and m our more temperate re?;ions plant life, though more slowly, but not ess surely, is in constant opposition to exclusive human occupation of any ponjon of earth’s surface.