About three hundred species of Bacteria and fifteen species of Fungus are recognized to be luminous. The dead leaves of the tropical Banibusa, Nephelium and Aglaia often glow at night with the light of these tiny creatures. Ordinary dead Oak and Beech leaves are luminous, sometimes shining in spots, but frequently glowing throughout with a soft, white, steady light. These miniature incandescent lights often shine for days, weeks and months, and with abundant nutriment at hand, sometimes for years. The light is slight in intensity, but uniformly steady and white, green or blue-green in colour. It is strong enough to enable the plants on which the Fungus grows to photograph themselves by long exposure to sensitized plates. The fungus light has also been used to influence the heliotropic movements of plant seedlings. In fact, a colony of Fungus has sometimes been placed in an electric light bulb and made thus to serve as an illuminant. No matter from what angle we study the plants, we find that they are extremely scientific. They conduct themselves and all their activities in a way to always get the best results. They show knowledge and acquaintance with all of Nature’s laws, and they have learned to apply many of them with startling success. [Illustration: MODERN NATURE WORSHIPPERS] CHAPTER X RELIGION IN THE PLANT WORLD “_Denied in heaven the soul he held on earth._” --_Byron_ In a sense, the entire plant world is a beautiful and expressive worship of a bountiful and beneficent Creator. No creed which does not deny God will fail to see the silent but reverent adoration exhibited by His handiwork. Every tree which raises its brave crest toward the heavens, every flower which greets the warming sunlight with a smile, is a testimony to the omnipotence of divine law. Fully explain the wonders of a single blade of Grass, and you have solved the mysteries which underlie the universe.