SCIENTIFIC HISTORY OF A PLANT 



applied to a reviewal of the more extended surveys of the natural world which we have 

 now, coupled with the accurate and profound knowledge of the labors and advances of 

 philosophers during past years. 



Natural history geography is the science to which I allude: a science which, besides 

 geographical description, includes the general phenomena of the present life of the globe, 

 in reference to their connection and mutual dependence. For the most part, this science 

 is a production of the German schools. Schlegel, in his " Concordia," in 1820, put forth 

 some of the germs of this branch of natural philosophy, (or rather this combination of 

 branches;) in seven years afterwards, in 1827, appeared those memorable lectures on the 

 " Philosophy of Life," embodying more extended and perfect views than had yet been 

 suggested, even although, as early as 1806, and perhaps before, some of the sketches 

 which at present form the " Aspects of Nature," were publicly delivered by their illus- 

 trious author. At the end of the fourth lecture on the " Philosophy of Life," we find 

 expressed one of those truths to which I have just alluded: — " An exalted view and un- 

 derstanding of nature consists in its being contemplated not merely as a dynamical play 

 of reciprocal forces, but historically in its course of development as a commencing life, 

 perpetually relapsing into death, ever disposed to sleep, and only painfully raising itself, 

 or rather raised and lovinglj^ guided through all the intermediate grades into life. But 

 beneath the huge tombstone of outward nature, there sleeps a soul not wholly alien, but 

 half akin to ourselves, which is distracted between the troubled and painful reminiscences 

 of eternal death, out of which it issued, and the flowers of light, which are scattered 

 here and there on this dark earth as so many lively suggesters of a heavenly hope." Per- 

 haps in a more eminent degree, Carl Ritter aided in forwarding the science of natural his- 

 tory geography. He, as well as Schlegel, recognised the vitality of the globe. Our views 

 on this subject have to a considerable degree been enlarged and strengthened by the trans- 

 lation into English of the beautiful comparative physical geography of Arnold Guoyet— 

 a work that cannot be too extensively read. But after all, there is one name which is 

 more especially connected with this science — a name which has been by Professor E. 

 Forbes termed its organiser, as well as originator: I allude to the Baron Alexander Yon 

 Humboldt. 



Natural history geography may be regarded as including, among other things, the diffe- 

 rent chemical, geological, and general physical relations which have modified the distribu- 

 tion of plants and animals — of plants, because the conditions of a thriving vegetation are 

 so various, that under certain circumstances there springs a peculi;ir flora, giving a charac- 

 teristic scenery to a country, and so influencing the mind. But such a distribution is also 

 an index to the geology, because certain plants require a certain soil, and the quality of 

 the soil depends mainly npon the geological formations; to the meteorology, because cer- 

 tain plants require particular amounts of heat and moisture. It is the proper province 

 of chemistry to tell us the constitution of the soil — to show what ingredients are contain- 

 ed in a plant from the analysis of its ashes : so that chemistry, geology, and meteorology 

 are, by means of vegetation, brought into a more intimate relationship. We can, howev- 

 er, look at a plant as the theatre for the display of certain physical actions — as an appa- 

 ratus constructed for exhibiting certain purely molecular actions — endosmose, exosmose, 

 capillary attraction, force of suction — so that general physics may be added to the other 

 group. Under all these circumstances, therefore, the subject appeared not inapt to bring 

 before the members of a society connected as this is with the study of botany. 



reference to the first portion of our subject — the chemical phenomena of vegetation — 

 observe, that we are much indebted to the researches of Professor Liebig; and the 



