Xll EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 



pandïng itfelf clofe to the ground, on which it forms ftarS 

 of verdure, it has nothing to fear from the winds : it is 

 deeply indented, like the teeth of a faw, for the purpofe of 

 opening a paflage to the gralfes ; and it's indentings are 

 bent inward to catch the rain-water, and convey it to the 

 roots. Thus Nature adapts the means to each fubject, and 

 redoubles her attention in proportion to it's weaknefs. The 

 fphere of the dandelion is more artfully formed than the 

 cone of the cedar, and, beyond all contradiction, much more 

 volatile. It requires a temped to carry the feeds of the 

 cedar to any confiderable diftance ; but the breath of the 

 zephyr is fuffieient to re-fow thofe of the dandelion. A 

 Lebanon is likewife neceflary for planting the firft, but the 

 fécond needs only a mole-hill. This fmall vegetable is 

 likewife more ufeful in the World than the cedar ; it ferves 

 for food to a great many quadrupeds, and to a Variety of 

 fmall birds, which fatten on it's grains. It is very falutary 

 to the human fpecies, efpecially in the Spring feafon. We 

 accordingly find great numbers of poor people, at that time, 

 picking up it's young moots in the fields. It is, moreover, 

 the only plant which Nature prefents gratuitoufly to Man 

 in our Climates. It univerfally thrives in dry places, and 

 even in the learns of the pavement. It frequently carpets 

 the court-yards of Hotels, the mailers of which are not 

 over-burthened with valfals, and feems to invite the refe- 

 rable to walk in. It's gold-coloured flowers very agreeably 

 enamel the foot of walls, and it's feathered fphere, raifed 

 upon a long fhaft, in the bofom of a ftar of verdure, is by 

 no means deftitute of beauty. 



It is the leaf, then, which particularly determines the 

 natural lite of a vegetable ; for, as we have feen, there are 

 aquatic plants which have their grains volatile, becaufe 



they 



