lO BOTANY FOR BEGINNERS. [Ch. 1 



''grass for the beasts of the field, and food for the use of man,' 

 hut a rich succession of curious and lovely blossoms for our ad 

 miration and enjoyment. 



6. In Botany you study things which God has made. When 

 examining plants, with all their wonderful varieties, and observ- 

 ing the wise provision which is made for their growth, and the 

 perfection of the seed, with the mutual relations of the various 

 parts to each other, you must remember to give the praise to Him 

 whose infinite mind directs and watches over the growth of the 

 most humble plant, at the same time that he upholds the vast 

 worlds which he has created, and which every moment need his 

 sustaining care. Every motion we make, every breath we draw, 

 and every pulsation of our hearts, show that this same care is 

 over us too ; for without it, we could no more live, than we 

 could have created ourselves. 



7. Before attempting any new thing, we should always under- 

 stand the reasons for so doing. I will now tell you why your pa- 

 rents and instructors wish you to learn something about Botany. 

 1st. It is a delightful study : it presents you with sweet and 

 pleasant objects, the contemplation of which is calculated to 

 render your tempers mild and amiable. It will always furnish 

 you with an agreeable amusement, which is not only innocent, 

 but of a nature to refine and improve your minds. 



8. 2d. If you live in a city, your friends may have house- 

 plants or gardens, and you may sometimes go to public gardens, 

 where the most wonderful plants of all countries are collected, 

 will it not be pleasant, when you meet with flowers, to be able 

 to find, by examining a book, what are their true names, their 

 characters and habits, and their medicinal qualities'? 



9. 3d. There are a great many other things too, which Bota- 

 ny will teach you, such as the offices performed by the root, 

 stem, leaves, and other organs of the plant, especially by the 

 different parts of the flower, to which is assigned the care of 

 forming and ripening the seed. 



10. 4th. If you live in the country, every mountain-glen, every 

 meadow, the banks of every little brook, and the waysides, will 

 show you the different families of plants, which appear, one af- 

 ter another, from April till October. And many a beautiful 

 blossom will lift up its little head in your rural walks as if to 



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6. Whose works do xre examine in the study of Botany 7 



7. What advantages are first mentioned as connected with the studv 

 of Botany 1 



8. What advantapra i-: ; the study are mentioned secondly 7 



9. What thirdly 1 



10. What fourthly 1 



