EXPLANATION OF THE FRONTISPIECE. 



PLANTS were made on the third day of the Creation. At the 

 command of God, grass appeared upon the earth, the shrub and 

 the tree, each yielding fruit, after its kind, ichose seed was con- 

 tained within itself, for the reproduction of the same while the 

 earth should exist. 



The plai^ represents the appearance of the earth at this exact 

 period ; darkness had been separated from light ; the waters, 

 gathered together, had left the land dry and solid for the sup- 

 port of vegetation. The sun had not yet been created ; no ani- 

 mal existed ; no eye but that of God then beheld the earth. We 

 see represented the darkness still retreating from the light, as in 

 the morning twilight. We must imagine the solemn silence 

 which brooded over the broad earth : no hum of insect, song of 

 bird, or lowing of animal was heard, for it was not until the fourth 

 day (or period of time) that the sun was created ; and not until 

 the fifth day, that the earth became animated with living things, 

 which had voices, and could move. The plants had only vegeta- 

 ble life; they were made for the use of the animal creation, and 

 to adorn the face of the earth. The Creator beholding His work 

 at this stage, " saw that it was good." The plate exhibits vege- 

 tation in different forms, grass and rushes by the margin of the 

 waters. In the centre of the foreground of the picture, is a small 

 plant with broad leaves ; it is called the side-saddle plant.* Back 

 of this is the papaw treef of the Tropics, with its rich clusters of 



* Sarracenia purpurea. See Plate III. Lincoln's Botany. 

 f Carica papaya. See Plate IV. Lincoln's Botany. 

 1* (5) 



