Exhortation to praise God. AUGUST 1. EXHORTATION TO PRAISE GOD. BLESS the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Is he not thy Father and thy God? Is it not he who hath made thee, who hath made thee immortal, who hath endued thee with reason, and with the faculty of knowing and praising him, thy Creator? Is it not he who formed the wonderful texture of thy frame, who composed thy body of flesh and bones, and yessels of different kinds, whose power preserveth thy breath, and keepeth all thy bones, that not one of them is broken? To God alone art thou indebted for life, health, and existence. Look back at the way by which he hath conducted thee from the moment of thy birth, and say if it be not marked with frequent monuments of his goodness. Lift up thine eyes, O thou highly favored being! Survey the numberless blessings of every kind, which he hath already showered upon thee. At the same time direct thy view to the future: behold what faith shews thee beyond the tomb. Figure to thyself the yet unfelt transports with which thou shalt leave all afflictions and imperfections behind thee in the grave, and shalt be removed into the presence of God, thy creator and thy preserver; of Jesus, who hath procured for thee eternal bliss, who will place thee beside his throne, and make thee an everlasting partaker of his glory. Prostrate thyself, thou child of God, thou heir of salvation! Prostrate thyself, and let all that is within thee unite in one general sentiment of the 2 Progressive growth of corn. most lively gratitude. Begin even here below the occupation of eternity! Praise the Lord, O my soul! AUGUST 2. PROGRESSIVE GROWTH OF CORN. EACH stalk of corn is composed of the principal stem. It begins to be formed as soon as four green leaves appear. If the plant is then taken, and the lower leaf carefully pressed down or separated, you may generally perceive a small white spot, which in due time becomes a stalk. This little point springs from the marrow of a knot, opens into green leaves, and shoots out others from its side. All the stalks, however, that are thus produced, do not bear fruit; many of them wither and perish. When the principal stem is crowned with the ear, a considerable change takes place in the plant, and all the sap which it contains is then employed in the formation of the blossom and the fruit. But previous to this, during the early growth of the plant, four or six leaves, which issue from as many knots, increase greatly in size. These prepare the nutritive juices of the plant for the ear, which may be seen in embryo, on splitting the plant through the middle, in spring, long before it makes its appearance. Nay, even in autumn it may be discovered in wheat, under the form of a small bunch of grapes, when the knots are yet quite close together. When the plant begins to push forth the grain, the two upper leaves of the stalk closely unite, and protect the ear till it has acquired a certain degree of strength. Till that time, all the knots, and Progressive growth of corn. especially the two last, are quite soft, and very near each other. As soon, however, as the ear has burst its covering, all these parts grow longer, and the lowermost leaves transfer to them all the juices they contain. As the knots gradually become harder, those leaves decay; so that when the ear is quite exposed to view, and has almost attained its full size, they contain but very little sap, which passes into the stem, where the knots prevent its return. When all these preparations are completed, the flower which communicates fecundity to the grain makes its appearance. This flower, or blossom, consists of a number of extremely delicate white fibres, issuing from the receptacles of the seed. These are likewise covered with various other fibres, which are at first yellowish, afterwards become brown, and turn black shortly before they wither and fall off. The principal use of these fibres is to nourish a small grain that may be perceived in the receptacle of the seed. As soon as the blossom is past, the specks containing the germ make their appearance, and these arrive at perfection long before the farinaceous matter is discernible. That matter at length begins to be formed, and gradually increases, while the sap collects round an extremely delicate particle resembling down. This substance, which continues after the blossom is over, serves, among other purposes, to keep open the great tube that passes through the cleft in the grain. The latter begins to ripen as soon as it has attained its full size. The straw and ears then become white, and the greenish color of the seed is exchanged for yellow, or dark brown. The grains, however, are still soft, and the farina contains much |