46 GENERAL REMARKS. 



the Tobacco are examples. The Umbelliferous plants, which grow in wet pla- 

 ces, have usually a nauseous smell : such plants are poisonous, as the Water 

 hemlock. Umbelliferous plants which grow in dry places, usually have an 

 aromatic smell, and are not poisonous, as Caraway and Fennel 



Plants with Labiate corollas, and containing their seeds in capsules, arc often 

 poisonous, as the Foxglove ; (Digitalis ;) also, such as contain a milky juia , un- 

 less they are compound flowers. Such plants as have homed or hooded nec- 

 taries, as the Columbine and Monk's-hood, are mostly poisonous. 



Among plant* which are seldom poisonous, are the compound flowers, as 

 the Dandelion and Boneset; such as have labiate corollas, \\iih seeds lying na- 

 ked in the calyx, are said, never to be poisonous ; the Mint and Thyme are ex- 

 amples of such plants. The Papilionaceous flowers, as the pea and bean ? the 

 Cruciform, as the radish and mustard, are seldom found to be poisonous. Such 

 plants as have their stamens standing on the calyx, as the Rose and applo, are 

 never poisonous ; neither the grass-like plants with glume calyxes, aa Wheat, 

 Rye, and Orchard grass, (Dactylis.) 



Proper Flowers for Analysis. 



In selecting flowers for analysis, you musljiever take double ones; the ?ta- 

 raens (and in many cases the pistils also) change to petals by cultivation, there- 

 fore you cannot know by adouble flower, how many stamens or pistils belong 

 to it in its natural state. Botanists M-.-IU to view n.s a kind of sacrilege, the 

 changes, made by culture, in the natural characters of plants ; they call the 

 double flowers, and the variegated ones, produced by a mixture of different 

 species, monsters and deformities. These are harsh expressions to be applied 

 to Roses and Carnations, which our taste must lead us to admire, as intrinsical- 

 ly beautiful, although their relative beauty, as subservient to scientific illu>t ra- 

 tion, is certainly destroyed by the labour of the florist. The love of native 

 wild Howrrs is no doubt greatly heigtened by the habit of seeking them out, 

 and observing them in their peculiar situations ; a Botanist at the discovery of 

 some lowly plant, growing by the side of a brook, or almost concealed in the 

 cleft of a rock, will often experience a more vivid delight than could be produ- 

 ced by a view of the most splendid exotic. Botanical pursuits render us inter- 

 ested in every vegetable production ; even such as we before looked upon as 

 useless, present attractions, as objects of scientific investigation, and become 

 associated with the pleasing recollections, arising from the gratification of our 

 love of knowledge. A peculiar interest is given to conversation by an ac- 

 quaintance with any of the natural sciences ; and when females shall have 

 more generally obtained access to these delightful sources of pure enjoyment, 

 we may hope that scandal, which oftener proceeds from a want of better subjects 

 than malevolence .of disposition, shall cease to be regarded as a charaeteristic 

 of our sex. It is important to the cause of science, that it should become./^A- 

 ivnuhle; and as one means of affecting this, the parlours of those ladies, who 

 have advantages for intellectual improvement, should more frequently exhibit 

 spei-imens of their own scientific taste. All the fashionable*/ iv/miNot' 

 books, engravings and albums, do not reflect upon their possessors any ::r. .u 

 degree of credit To paste pictures, or pieces of prose or poetry, into a book ; 

 or to collect in an album the wit and good sense of others, are not proofs <>f 

 one's own acquirements ; and the possession of elegant and curious enirravintrs, 

 indicates a full purse, rather than a well stored mind ; but fctfffamMtt and books 

 of inijH, -xsiniimi/ , -Aunti*,* drawings &c. show the taste, and knowledge of those 

 who execute them. 



* MANNER OF TAKING IMPRESSIONS OF LEAVES. Hold Oiled paper OVCr 



the smoke of a lamp until it becomes darkened ; to this paper, apply the leaf, 

 having previously warmed it between the hands, that it may be pliant. Place 

 the lower surface of the leaf upon the blackened paper, that the numerous 

 veins which run through its extent, and which are so prominent on this side, 

 may receive from the paper, a portion of the smoke. Press the leaf upon the 



Plants seldom poisonous Double flowers not proper for analysis Effect of 

 Botanical pursuits Of an acquaintance with any of the natural sciences. 



