434 On the Study and Pnrsuits of Botany. 



be analyzed and turned into the channel of real and beneficial 

 use to mankind, adding to his comforts, and generating a sup- 

 ply for his wants. The phenomenon of abstruse studies will 

 not be hindered in its progress by such a course ; the real de- 

 velopment of useful facts will gather a stronger body, and in- 

 terest alone will support the practical results. The science of 

 horticulture has greatly improved within the last few years 

 in our New England Slates; there seems to be a general dis- 

 semination of love for the culture of flowers ; among our ladies, 

 this high order of taste, which embellishes the mind, and 

 strengthens the reflective powers, shows that a pleasing rev- 

 olution is going on, which, we trust, will pave the way for 

 research and inquiries in botanical science that will show a 

 well arranged herbarium in every young lady's boudoir. In 

 the analysis and study of plants, something new and pleas- 

 ing is revealed -at every step, and the different analogies gives 

 a wide scope to the thoughts, historically pointing out many 

 things of sacred interest. Thus, the ylcanthus vulgare, or 

 bears-foot, is supposed by Michselis to be the herb which 

 formed the crown for our Savior's head, in the mock derision 

 of his tormentors ; others of eminence suppose it to be the 

 tree called the naba, or nabka, of the Arabians ; the Shittim- 

 wood of Scripture is the black acacia growing in the valley 

 of Sinai; the Arbor infelix is the tree on which the Romans 

 hung their criminals ; and the most ancient canoes are said to 

 have been constructed from the bark of the Cyperus papyrus. 

 The manna of Scripture is said to be produced by a species of 

 Tamarisk ; and by the camel's-thorn {Alhdgi maurorum ;) a 

 similar manna distils from a species of Celastrus, in India ; 

 likewise the common larch affords an inferior manna. Al- 

 though those trees last mentioned produced a manna some- 

 what analogous to the manna of Scripture, yet its constit- 

 uent principles in chemical analysis must have been different ; 

 as we have reasons to suppose that the manna which fed the 

 children of Israel contained nitrogen, as putrefaction would 

 take place if it was kept over night ; this may be considered 

 as an omnipotent design of their Great Preserver to combine 

 all the sustenance possible in this species of food. The vari- 

 ous trees which afford the manna could be introduced and 

 cultivated with success in the tropical portion of our country. 



