32 GENERAL DIVISION [LEOT. I. 



lity. What is the use of Botany? What can you 

 gain by it? are constant questions. We have al- 

 ready stated our opinion as to what may be gained 

 by it ; but I would further answer such inquirers 

 by an anecdote told of the Greek philosopher He- 

 raclitus. This philosopher was very poor, but 

 much respected, and visited by individuals of the 

 highest rank. One day, when certain persons 

 came to consult him, they found him paring tur- 

 nips for his supper, and warming himself in a 

 kitchen: the meanness of the place occasioned 

 them to stop ; upon which the philosopher thus 

 accosted them: " Enter/' said he, " boldly, for 

 " here, too, there are gods." 



We have now to consider what mode of prose- 

 cuting the study of the science upon which we are 

 about to enter is likely to be productive of the 

 greatest benefit. 



BOTANY, as we before observed, is that science 

 which teaches the knowledge of vegetables, their 

 structure, habits, and properties; and to distin- 

 guish different plants from each other ; or, it com- 

 prehends Phytology and Systematic Botany*. 



* Vegetable physiology, indeed, cannot be separated from 

 systematic Botany ; for, to use the words of a French writer, 

 M. Aubert du Petit-Thouars, " it is essentially the basis upon 

 " which that science is raised ; and the more this basis shall be 

 " known, the more Botany, already so attractive in herself, 

 * will see the number of her disciples increase." 



