STUDY XI» 97 



STUDY ELEVENTH. 



APPLICATIONS OF SOME GENERAL LAWS OF NA- 

 TURE TO PLANTS. 



EFORE I proceed to fpeak of plants, I mud 

 be indulged in making a few reflections on 

 the language of Botany. 



We are ftill fo young in the ftudy of Nature, 

 that our languages are deficient in terms to exprefs 

 her mod common harmonies. This is fo true, 

 that however exad the defcriptions of plants may 

 be, and compiled by Bouanifts of whatever abi- 

 lity, it is impoffible to diftinguim them in the 

 fields, unlefs you have previouily feen them in 

 Nature, or, at lead, in a herbary. Perfons who 

 think they have made the greated proficiency in 

 Botany, need only attempt to draw on paper a 

 plant which they have never feen, after the defcrip- 

 tion of the mod accurate Matter, to be convinced 

 how widely the copy deviates from the original. 



vol. nr. h Men 



