Plants. 195 



ferent species, each formed with infinite 

 beauty and variety. From others he par- 

 ticularly distinguishes the elegant brizct 

 media, so common in the fields, and so 

 remarkable for its delicate hair-like stem, 

 trembling at every breeze ; the anthoxan- 

 ihum odoratum, which gives its fragrance 

 to the new-mown hay ; and the stipa 

 pennata with its waving plumes resem- 

 bling the feathers of the bird of paradise* 

 The botanist enjoys a pleasing and inno- 

 cent amusement, most agreeably com- 

 bined with a love of rural retirement, 

 and which gives a new and growing inter- 

 est to every w r alk and ride, in the most 

 delightful season of the year. Indeed 

 man cannot contemplate the vegetable 

 creation without recalling the idea of 

 beauty, sweetness, and a thousand charms 

 that captivate the senses. The perfume 

 of the rose and the stately magnificence 

 of the forest successively catch his atten- 

 tion and delight him* 



The number of species of plants alrea- 

 dy known is about twenty-five thousand ; 

 and botanists suppose that double that 

 number, at least, remain to be discoveredo 



The different vegetable productions are 



