The study of nature, in any of her forms, is highly interesting and useful. But the heavenly bodies are far distant from us ;—and were they within our reach, are too mighty for us to grasp, our feeble minds seem overwhelmed in the contemplation of their immensity. Animals, though affording the most striking marks of designing wisdom, cannot be dissected and examined without painful emotions. But the vegetable world offers a boundless field of inquiry, which may be explored with the most pure and delightful emotions. Here the Almighty seems to manifest himself to us, with less of that dazzling sublimity which it is almost painful to behold in His more magnificent creations; and it would seem, that accommodating the vegetable world to our capacities of observation, He had especially designed it for our investigation and amusement, as well as our sustenance and comfort.

The study of Botany naturally leads to greater love and reverence for the Deity. We would not affirm, that it does in reality always produce this effect; for, unhappily, there are some minds which, though quick to perceive the beauties of nature, seem blindly to overlook Him who spread them forth. They can admire the gifts, while they forget the giver. But those who feel in their hearts a love to God, and who see in the natural world the workings of His power, can look abroad, and adopting the language of a christian poet, exclaim,

"My father made them all."

Division of the Lectures.

Having endeavoured to convince you that the study you are about to commence, is recommended by its own intrinsic utility, and especially by its tendency to strengthen the understanding and improve the heart, we will now present you with the arrangement which we propose to follow.

We will divide our course of study into Four Parts, viz.:

PART I. Will be chiefly devoted to teaching the Analysis of Plants, or lessons in Practical Botany.

PART II. We shall here consider the various organs of the plant, beginning with the root and ascending to the flower; this part will include what is usually termed Elementary Botany; it will also contain remarks upon the uses of the various organs of plants, the nature of vegetable substances, and other circumstances connected with Vegetable Physiology.

PART III. In this part we shall consider the different systems of Bolany. We shall examine some of the most important Natural families; and then proceed to give a detailed view of the Linnæan System; remarking upon some of the most interesting genera and natural families found under each class and order. PART IV. In this part we shall consider the Progressive appearance of Flowers during the season of blossoming; their various phenomena produced by the different states of the atmosphere, light, &c.; and their geographical distribution. After giving a History of the progress of botanical science, we shall, in a general view of Nature, consider the distinction between organized and unorganized matter, with their analogies and contrasts.

Heavenly bodies-Animals-Study of the vegetable world-The study of Botany tends to piety.-Division of the subject into four parts-I. Practical Botany-II. Vegetable Physiology-III. Systematic Botany-IV. Various phenomena of Plants, History of Botany, and General Views of Nature.

PART I.

LECTURE II.

GENERAL DIVISION OF THE SCIENCES WHICH RELATE TO MIND AND MATTERDIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS OF BOTANICAL SCIENCE-PARTS OF A FLOWER.

THE Universe, as composed of mind and matter, gives rise to various sciences. The SUPREME BEING We believe to be immaterial, or pure mind.

The knowledge of mind may be considered under two general heads.

1. THEOLOGY,* or that science which comprehends our views of the Deity, and our duties to Him.

2. PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN MIND, or metaphysics,† which is the science that investigates the mind of man, and analyzes and arranges its faculties.

The knowledge of matter, which is included under the general term, Physics, may be considered under three general heads.

1. NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, which considers the effects of bodies acting upon each other by their mechanical powers; as their weight and motion.

2. CHEMISTRY, in which the properties and mutual action of the elementary atoms of bodies are investigated.

3. NATURAL HISTORY, which considers the external forms and characters of objects, and arranges them in classes.

NATURAL HISTORY is divided into three branches.

1. ZOOLOGY, which treats of animals.

2. BOTANY, which treats of plants.

3. MINERALOGY, which treats of the unorganized masses of the globe; as stones, earths, &c. GEOLOGY, which treats of minerals as they exist in masses, forming rocks, is a branch of mineralogy.

Having thus presented you with this general view of the natural sciences, we will now proceed to that department which is to be the object of your present study.

Departments in Botany.

BOTANYS treats of the vegetable kingdom, including every thing which grows, having root, stem, leaf, or flower. This science comprehends the knowledge of the methodical arrangement of plants, of their structure, and whatever has relation to the vegetable kingdom. The study of plants may be considered under two general heads.

1st. The classification of plants by means of comparing their different organs, is termed Systematic Botany.

2d. The knowledge of the relations and uses of the various parts of plants with respect to each other, is termed Physiological Botany. This department includes Vegetable Anatomy.

From the Greek Theos, God, and logos, a discourse.

From meta, beyond, and phusis, nature. This term originated with Aristotle, who, considering the study of the intellectual world as beyond that of the material world, or physics, called it meta ta phusis.

From zoe, life, and logos, a discourse.

§ From the Greek, botane, an herb.

The Universe composed of two classes of existence-Divisions of the sciences which relate to mind-Those which relate to matter-Branches of Natural HistoryDefinition of Botany-Systematic Botanv-Physiological Botany.

Sytematic Botany is divided into the artificial and natural methods. The artificial method is founded upon different circumstances of two organs of the plant, called the pistils and stamens. Linnæus, of Sweden, discovered that these organs are common to all plants, and

essential to their existence. Taking advantage of this fact, he founded divisions, called classes and orders, upon their number, situation, and propor-. tion. By this system, plants which are unlike in their general appearance, but agree in certain particulars of their stamens and pistils, are brought together; thus in a dictionary, words of different signification are placed together from the mere circumstance of agreement in their initial letters.

Before you can learn the principles on which the classification of plants depends, it is necessary that you should become acquainted with the parts of a flower;-you have here the representation of a white Lily. (See fig. 1.) At first this flower

is folded up in a green bud, by degrees it changes its colour, and expands into a blossom.

b

C

g

e

d

f

Fig. 2.

The envelope is called the corolla, from corona, a crown.

The pieces which compose the corolla are called petals. (Fig. 1. a.)

The six thread-like organs within the corolla are called stamens; each stamen consists of a filament, (Fig. 2. a,) and an anther (b.) The anther contains the pollen, a fine powder, which serves to give life to the young seed. When the flower comes to maturity, the anthers burst and scatter the pollen. In the centre of the flower is the pistil, (Fig. 2. c;) this consists of the germ, (d,) the style, (e,) and the stigma, (f) The germ contains the young seeds, called ovules; these are contained in one or more cavities, called cells. The end of the stem which supports the organs of the flower, and which in some plants is very broad, is called the receptacle, (Fig. 2. g.)

Artificial Method-The flower enveloped in the bud-Corolla-Petals-Stamen~. Parts of a stamen-Pistil-Parts of the pistil-Receptacle.

valves as appears in a mature state. (Fig. 3. B) represents the capsule as if cut transversely to show its three cells (b;) each cell contains two triangular seeds (c.)

The lily, although a beautiful flower, is deficient in one organ, which is common to the greater part of flowers; this is the calyx, or cup, which is usually green, and surrounds the lower part of the corolla, as in the Pink.

When the calyx consists of several parts, these are called sepals, and sometimes leaves of the calyx.

The organs we have now considered, are as follows:

Calyx-the cup, surrounding the corolla, the parts are called sepals. Corolla-the blossom, the parts are petals.

Stamens-next within the corolla, the parts are the anther, pollen, and filament.

Pistil-central organ, the parts are the germ, style, and stigma.
Receptacle-which supports the other parts of the flower.
Besides these, there are in the mature plant, the

Pericarp-containing the seed.

Seed-rudiment of a new plant.

Botanical Analysis.

Although the examination of the different organs of the flower may properly be called analysis, because it is the observation of constituent parts singly ;-yet when the botanist speaks of analyzing plants, he understands an examination of their organs with reference to determining their place in some botanical system.

We will now proceed to the analysis of some plants, that we may thus introduce the pupil to what we believe the best system of botanical arrangement for popular use.

Division of Plants into Classes, &c.

According to the system we shall adopt, all plants are divided into twenty-one classes. Each class is divided into Orders, the Orders into Genera,* and the Genera into Species.

The name of the genus may be compared to the family name; that of the species, to the individual or christian name; for example: the

* The plural of genus, a family or tribe.

Pericarp-Describe that of the lily-Calyx-Sepals-Enumerate the parts of a flow er-Whis meant by analyzing plants?-Classes-Orders-Genera-Species.

Rose family contains many different species; as Rosa alba, the white rose, Rosa damascena, the damask rose, &c. The specific or individual name in Botany, is placed after the family name, as Rosa alba, which is rose white, instead of white rose: this circumstance is probably owing to the use of Latin terms; as in that language the adjective is generally placed after the noun, instead of before it, as in English.

LECTURE III.

METHOD OF ANALYZING PLANTS.-ANALYSIS OF THE PINK, LILY, ROSE, AND

POPPY.

WHEN you begin to analyze plants, you will meet with many new terms. It will be necessary in these cases, to resort to the vocabulary of botanical words ;* by the observation of plants, connected with definitions, you will soon become familiar with the technical terms of Botany.

We will now proceed to analyze a flower in order to ascertain its botanical name. We will commence with the Pink, as you are provided with a drawing which you can examine if you have no natural flower.†

The first step, is to find the class. We will suppose this flower to belong to one of the first ten classes; in this case, all you have to do is, to ascertain the number of stamens, as by this circumstance, these classes are arranged.

Because there are ten stamens, (Fig. 4. a,) the Pink is in the 10th class, the name of which is, Decandria. The second step is to find the order. In the first 12 classes,

the orders depend on the number of pistils ;-these you must count; -because you find two, (Fig. 4. b,) you know your flower belongs to the 2d order;-the name of which is Digynia.

You must now turn to the "Description of the Genera of plants;" find class 10th, order 2d. The third step is to ascertain the genus of your plant; for this purpose, you must compare it with each genus, until you find it described.

*This is placed in the latter part of this volume.

+ In analyzing a natural flower, it is necessary to separate the parts; first, if there is a calyx, remove it carefully, then take off the corolla, or if it is monopetalous, cut it open with a knife. A microscope is necessary if the organs are very small.

See Table of Contents.

First step in the analysis of the Pink-second step-third step.