582 UTILITY OF BOTANY IN AGRICULTURE. 



are small, and make little appearance ; but the fruit is perfectly 



oily. * * * 



As I have discovered this to grow at the distance of only two 

 hundred and fifty miles, if those I now have should not shoot, in 

 the spring, I intend setting out for a new supply. Thus you may 

 see to what fatigue, expense, and misfortune, we are subjected, who 

 undertake to supply Europeans with * curiosities ; and judge how 



small our recompense. 



I remain, &c, 



M. Marshall. 



December 11th, 1793. 



In a folio volume of Manuscript Records, in the Library of the 

 Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture, the following 

 communication is preserved : 



MR. HUMPHRY MARSHALL'S OBSERVATIONS ON BOTANY 

 AS APPLICABLE TO RURAL ECONOMICS. 



Read in the Society, February 14th, 1786. 



OBSERVATIONS, TENDING TO SHOW THE UTILITY OF BOTANICAL KNOWLEDGE IN 

 RELATION TO AGRICULTURE, AND THE FEEDING OF CATTLE, ETC. 



The Science of Botany certainly holds its most dignified 

 station when subservient to Medicine ; but its utility does not 

 terminate in this alone, though it has too long been considered as 

 having no other connexion. This, notwithstanding, is but a partial, 

 nay, even an injurious idea of it ; for nothing has more retarded its 

 usefulness, than this contracted notion. It has a relation in a 

 variety of ways, to many other arts and sciences, among which may 

 be mentioned the arts of painting and dyeing : but of all others, 

 Agriculture certainly claims the strictest relation, some of its most 

 important branches being greatly dependent upon it ; and others, 

 from a happy application of it, being perhaps capable of future 

 emolument. 



But however great the real dignity and importance of this art, 

 yet it must be allowed that it has not been cultivated sufficiently 



