CHAPTER XXII 

 APPLICATIONS OF BOTANY 



BOTANY is one of the very oldest of the sciences and treats 

 of plant life, upon which all other forms of life depend ; in fact, 

 it may be called the most fundamental of all sciences. It would 

 be extremely difficult to tell the beginnings of this science ; was it 

 when the human race took the first step in agriculture, or did 

 it begin with the commerce in plant products, or did it begin 

 at some later period when some individual began the study of 

 plants for some definite purpose ? Primitive agriculture is prac- 

 ticed by the savage and partly civilized tribes of men throughout 

 the earth. The ancient agriculture of the old world reached its 

 highest development in the fertile valleys of southern Asia, in 

 the Valley of the Nile and in southern Europe. When America 

 was discovered, its highest development of agriculture was 

 found in Mexico, Central America and the Andes regions of 

 South America. The advancement of agriculture necessitated 

 that wandering tribes cease their nomadic life and their depend- 

 ence on natural production and give more or less of their atten- 

 tion and time to increasing the production of plant life. In 

 many parts of the world the growing of crops was associated with 

 religious activities and special festival seasons were designated 

 for celebrating seed-time and harvest. 



With the advance of civilization, man gave more and more 

 time to the study of useful plants. The first great and im- 

 portant steps in the study of botany began with the search for 

 medicinal plants. The early works on botany were peculiar 

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