26 GENERAL REMARKS. 



nauseous smell : such plants are poisonous, b.s the water-hemlock. Umbelliferous 

 plants which grow in dry places, usually have an aromatic smell, and are not poi- 

 sonous, as caraway and fennel. Plants with labiate corollas, and containing their 

 seeds in capsules, are often poisonous, as the foxglove (Digitalis) ; also, such as con- 

 tain a mil kt/ juke, unless they are compound flowers. iSuch plants as have horned 

 or hooded nectaries, as- the columbine and monk's-hood, are mostly poisonous 

 Among plants which are seldom poisonous, are the compound flowers, as the dande- 

 lion and boncset; such as have labiate corollas, with seeds lying naked in the 

 calyx, are seldom or never poisonous ; the mint and thyme are examples of such 

 plants. Tlie Papilionaceous flowers, as the pea and bean ; the Cruciform, as the 

 radish and mustard, are seldom found to be poisonous. Such plants as have their 

 stamens standing on the calyx, as the rose and apple, are never poisonous ; neither 

 the grass-hke plants with glume calyxes, as wheat, rye, and orchard-grass (Dactylis). 

 27. Proper Floicers for Analysis. — In selecting flowers for analysis, we must 

 never take double ones ; the stamens (and in many cases the pistils also) change to 

 petals by culHvation, therefore we cannot know by a double flower, how many 

 etamens or pistils belong to it in its natural state. Some botanists seem to view 

 with jealousy the changes made by culture, in the natural characters of plants ; 

 they call double flowers, and variegated ones, produced by a mixture of different 

 species, monsters and deformities. These are harsh expressions to be appUed to 

 roses and carnations, which our taste must lead us to admire, as intrinsically beauti- 

 ful, although their relative beauty, as subservient to scientific illustration, is cer 

 tainly destroyed by the labor of the florist. The love of native wild-flowers is no 

 doubt greatly hightened by the habit of seeking them out, and observing them in 

 their peculiar situations. A botanist, at the discovery of some lowly plant, grow- 

 ing by the side of a brook, or almost concealed in the cleft of a rock, will often ex- 

 perience more vivid delight than could be produced by a view of the most splendid 

 exotic. Bot.anical pursuits render us interested in every vegetable production : 

 even such as we before looked upon as useless, present attractions as objects of 

 scientific investigation, and become associated with the pleasing recollections, 

 arising from the gratification of our love of knowledge. A peculiar interest is given 

 to conversation by an acquaintance with any of the natural sciences; and when 

 females shall have more generally obtained access to these delightful sources of 

 pm-e enjoyment, we may hope that scandal, which oftener proceeds from a want o( 

 better subjects, than from malevolence of disposition, shall cease to be regarded as 

 a characteristic of the sex. It is important to the cause of science, that it should 

 hecome fashionable ; and as one means of effecting this, the parlors of those ladies 

 who have advantages for intellectual improvement, should more frequently exhibit 

 specimens of their own scientific taste. It is unfortunately too much the case, that 

 female iogenuity (especially in the case of young ladies after leaving school) is in a 

 great degree directed to trivial objects, which have no reference either to utility, 

 or to moral and intellectual improvement. But a taste for scientific pursuits once 

 acquired, a lady will feel that she has no time for engagements which neither tend 

 to the good of others, nor to make herself wiser or better. 



Manner of lakiv^ impressions of leaves. — Hold oiled paper over the smoke of a lamp until it be- 

 comea darkened ; to^this [laper apply the leaf, having previously warmed it between the hands, that it 

 may be pliant. Place the lower surface of the leaf u))on the blackened paper, that the numerous veins 

 which run through its extent, and which are so prominent on this side, may receive from the paper a 

 portion of the smoke. Press the leaf upon the paper by jdacing upon it some thin paper, and rubbing 

 the fingers gently over it, so that every part of tfie leaf may come in contact with the sooted oil-])aper. 

 Then remove the leaf, and place the sooted side upon clean white paper, jjressing it gently as before; 

 upon removing the leaf, the paper will present a delicate and perfect outline, together with an accurate 

 exhibition of the veins, which extend in every direction titrough it, more correct and beautiful than thd 

 finest drawing. 



27. Double flowers not proper for analysis— Effect of botanical pursuits— -Of an acquaintance with 

 »ny of the natural sciences. ^Female ingenuity too often directed to trivial objects. 



