Plants. 183 



viewed as a whole, can only be consider- 

 ed as a relative object. Shall man then, 

 a being who cannot comprehend fully the 

 nature of a single object around him, 

 dare proudly to lift up his face, and pre- 

 tend to decide concerning possibilities 

 and the powers of nature ! His proper 

 province is to be humble and adore ! 



The plants with which we are best ac- 

 quainted may be arranged into three 

 grand divisions. The first are those 

 whose roots and stems remain for many 

 years, which comprehends all the varie- 

 ties of trees and shrubs. These, for the 

 most part, require several years to bring 

 them to a state of puberty (if that phrase 

 may be admitted)^ when they begin to 

 put forth flowers, and perfect their seeds ; 

 after which time they usually continue 

 to produce an annual crop of flowers and 

 seeds for a long period of time ; the fruit 

 in general succeeding the flowers, and 

 perfecting their seeds in the same year ; 

 but to this rule there are several excep- 

 tions. In a few instances the seeds do 

 not attain to muturity in the same sea- 

 son that the flower is produced ; but ? 

 continuing upon the tree the whole win* 



