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CHAPTER II. 



DEFINITION OF NATURAL HISTOIlY, AND PAUTICULAIILY 

 BOTANY— OF THE GENERAL TEXTURE OF PLANTS. 



Natural History properly signifies that study by which 

 we learn to distinguish from one another the natural 

 bodies, whether Animal, Vegetable or Mineral, around 

 us ; to discover as much as possible their nature and 

 properties, and especially their natural dependence on 

 each other in the general scale of beings. In a more 

 extensive sense it may be said to teach their secondary 

 properties, or the various uses to which they have been, 

 or may be, converted, in the service of mankind or of 

 other animals ; inasmuch as an acquaintance with their 

 natural qualities is our only sure guide to a knowledge 

 of their artificial uses. But as this definition would in- 

 clude many arts and sciences, each of them sufficient to 

 occupy any common mind, as Agriculture, Dietetics, 

 Medicine, and many others, it is sufficient for a philo- 

 sophical naturalist to be acquainted with the general 

 principles upon vvhicTi such arts and sciences are founded. 



That part of Natural History which concerns plants is 

 called Botany, from BeT«»^, the Greek word for a herb 

 or grass. Il may be divided into three branches ; 1st, 

 The physiology of plants, or a knowledge of the struc- 

 ture and functions of their different parts ; 2dly, The 

 systematical arrangement and denomination of their 

 several kinds ; and 3dly, Their (Economical or medical 

 properties. All these objects should be kept in view 

 by an intelligent botanist. The two first are of essential 



