BOTANY. 



CHAPTER I. 



INTRODUCTION. 



1. Botany is the science wliicli treats of the Vegetable 

 Kingdom. It inchidcs the knowledge of the habits, structure, 

 and uses of plants, together with their nomenclature and classi- 

 fication. 



2. Like its kindred sciences, it is resolved into distinct depart- 

 ments, according to the nature of the subjects to which it relates. 

 That part which investigates the organic structure of vegetables, 

 is called Organography, corresponding to Anatomy, in the 

 science of Zoology. 



3. That part of botany which relates to the phenomena of the 

 vital functions of plants, is called Vegetable Physiology ; in- 

 cluding the consideration of their germination, growth, and 

 reproduction. It has, therefore, a direct and practical bearing 

 upon the labors of husbandry, in the propagation and culture of 

 plants, both in the garden and in the field. 



4. Another department, of essential importance, is Gloss- 

 ology, wliich relates to the explanation and application of 

 botanical terms, whether nouns or adjectives, by which the 

 organs of plants, with their numerous modifications, are desig- 

 nated. 



5. A fourth department, called Systematic Botany, arises 

 from the consideration of plants, in relation to each other, their 

 mutual affinities, and their endless diversities, whereby the 

 100,000 species, supposed to exist, may be an-anged, classified, 

 and designated, by distinctive characters and names. 



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