LESSON XXXIV. 



VEGETABLES OR PLANTS. 



Your contemplations farther yet pursue; 

 The wondrous world of Vegetables view: 

 Observe the forest oak, the mountain pine, 

 The tow'ring cedar, and the humble vine, 

 The bending willow that o'ershades th flood, 

 And each spontaneous offspring of the wood. 



BLACKMOHEV 



IVlY young readers having undoubtedly expe- 

 rienced delight in viewing the beauties of the Ve- 

 getable Creation, I am in hopes of contributing to 

 their satisfaction, while I endeavour to explain the 

 nature of Vegetables and Vegetation. 



A Vegetable or Plant is an organized body, con- 

 sisting of various parts, taking in its nourishment 

 usually by a root, and increasing its dimensions by 

 growth. Vegetables may be divided into three 

 classes; namely, herbs, shrubs, and trees. Herbs 

 are those sorts of Vegetables whose stalks are soft, 

 and have no wood in them ; as parsley, lettuce, 

 violets, grass, thistles, and an infinite number of 

 others. Shrubs are those Plants which, though 

 woody, never grow into trees, but bow down their 



branches 



