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be insensible to the value of others. Every branch of 
science is useful to every other branch; and if a man be 
acquainted with various sciences, he will be able to bring a 
greater mental power to bear on any one, than if he want- 
ed the others; and hence, I would recommend every mem- 
ber of the Society to add to Natural History, a knowledge, 
also, as faras is in his power, of Natural Philosophy, 
Chemistry, Physiology, and such other subjects as lie with- 
in hisreach. A knowledge of Physiology and Chemistry 
is particularly valuable to the Naturalist :—it gives him a 
much wider range of thought in his lucubrations on the 
works of the creation, and expands his mind to a fuller 
comprehension of the ultimate ends intended by the Crea- 
tor in many instances, than without this accessary know- 
ledge he could have. When, for example, upon a fine 
spring day we walk into the country and see the process of 
committing the seed, which is to form the future harvest, 
to the bosom of the earth, we can seldom enjoy a more in- 
teresting prospect of nature and of human industry. The 
wild flowers are then beginning to appear, the birds carol 
from the yet leafless trees, and the lark, high in the heaven, 
quivering on rapid wing, pours out his exulting song—the 
sower stalks over the prepared ground, showers the seed- 
grain on the surface, and then, to use the words of Thom- 
son— 
“‘ The harrow follows harsh, and shuts the scene.” 
But the scene does not so shut up to the scientific natu- 
ralist. He traces the steps which the seed passes through 
in its development to the green and growing plant; and he 
may even make it a point, from which, as from a centre, 
he may expand his thoughts far and wide through the fields — 
of creation. Without pretending to illustrate the germi- 
nation of a seed in all its aspects and bearings, I will, as 
