PRINCIPLES OF BOTANY. 



It is more usual, indeed, to restrict the term Botany 

 entirely to the descriptive departments, in which, 

 as might have been expected, and as the nature of the 

 case requires, much greater progress has been made 

 than in the physiological. It is, in fact, only very 

 lately that any successful attempt has been made to- 

 connect the numerous facts which have been long 

 accumulating relative to the various phenomena which 

 attend, and the laws which regulate, the functions 

 performed by the living vegetable. 



(4.) Attrnnttuji-s nf unr jntrsitit. The old and by- 

 gone sneer of " mi honu," by which the naturalist was 

 formerly taunted, now offers no serious impediment in 

 the way of those who are willing to inquire for them- 

 selves. Even the few who still think that no advan- 

 tage would result from the encouragement of natural 

 history as a branch of general education, no longer at- 

 tempt any very decided opposition wherever they meet 

 with others prepared to uphold it. Our pursuit has 

 been so often and so satisfactorily shown to be produc- 

 tive of direct practical benefit to the general interests 

 of society, that nothing further need here be said on that 

 topic. But we would more especially recommend it as 

 a resource which is capable of affording the highest in- 

 tellectual enjoyment ; and as much worthy of general 

 notice for mental recreation, as air and exercise are for 

 our bodily health. All who feel an unaccountable 

 delight in contemplating the works of nature ; who 

 admire the exquisite symmetry of crystals, plants, and 

 animals ; and who love to meditate upon the wonderful 

 order and regularity with which they are distributed ; 

 possess a source of continued enjoyment within them- 

 selves, which is capable of producing a most beneficial 

 effect upon their temper and disposition, provided they 

 do not abuse these advantages by making such studies 

 too exclusively the objects of their thoughts and care. 

 Above all, they must beware of pampering the ridiculous 

 ambition of surpassing others in the extent of their col- 

 lections, or of fostering an absurd and captious jealousy 



