16 GUIDE TO THE STUDY OP LICHENS. 



SECTION II. 

 THE USES OF LICHENS. 



Whatever exists, exists for a purpose. If it exists 

 for a purpose, it serves some use in the economy of 

 nature. In many instances this purpose or use is not 

 apparent because not understood. If a thing is decried 

 as useless it simply indicates that it is not sufficiently 

 understood. Nature produces no useless things. From 

 the standpoint of the optimist, all things, inclusive of 

 those designated as bad or harmful, work ultimate 

 good. 



As indicated in the historical review, lichens have 

 been unfairly judged. They have been looked upon 

 as vegetable monstrosities. One comparatively recent 

 author considered them as mosses which had been 

 checked in their development. Linne looked upon 

 them as the " beggarly among plants." Others con- 

 sidered them as waste products of earth, rocks and 

 trees. They were quite generally considered as alto- 

 gether insignificant and useless, if not harmful. Even 

 poets were inclined to speak of them disparagingly. 

 The great part that lichens play in the economy of 

 nature was wholly overlooked. There were, however, 

 a few who ascribed to these plants medicinal properties 

 which they do not possess. As an article of diet and 



