34 GENERAL DIVISION [LBCT. t. 



and animals, we must always bear in memory that 

 they have one important function less than ani- 

 mals sensibility *. The losing sight of these cir- 

 cumstances, particularly the former, led the inge- 

 nious Darwin into a labyrinth of error ; and has 

 exposed his memory to the sarcasm of malevolent 

 wit and the derision of ignorance. That part of 

 our subject therefore, which refers to the economy 

 of the vegetable system, should first engage the 

 attention of the student. It constitutes Phyto- 

 logy, and comprehends the Anatomy and Physio- 

 logy of plants; and is the most amusing, and cer- 

 tainly not the least instructive part of the science. 

 The anatomy of plants is more difficult than that 

 of animals, from the minuteness of their parts, the 

 union of them, and the extreme difficulty of se- 

 parating them without destroying their texture. 

 If, however, it be more difficult, it is less disgust- 

 ing, and the microscope very much facilitates our 

 inquiries. Without it we can have no idea of the 

 structure of plants, and consequently no correct 

 notions of their functions can be obtained. In 

 studying the Anatomy the Terminology is acquir- 

 ed, an acquaintance with which is absolutely ne- 

 cessary for securing a knowledge of systematic 

 arrangement. By combining with these the study 



* " Vegetabilia, sensatione licet destituantur, aeque taroen ac 

 *' animalia vivcre probat ortus> nutritio, <zta$, vnotus, propulsio^ 

 morbus, mors, aMstfQmia t vrganismus." Pkilos.Botanica, J133. 

 9 



