2 LINNAEUS. 



EDWARD. 



What is Botany ? 



MOTHER. 



It is the science that makes us acquainted with 

 plants, and teaches us how to distinguish them from 

 one another. The term Botany is derived from a 

 Greek word signifying an herb or grass. Do you 

 not recollect what your aunt and I were talking of 

 yesterday in the garden ? I thought you seemed 

 attentive to our conversation. 



EDWARD. 



You said something about a very industrious 

 man, who had examined a great many plants. 



MOTHER. 



Yes : we were speaking of Linnaeus, a cele- 

 brated botanist, who did so much to increase our 

 knowledge of the works of nature, that he was 

 called the Father of Natural History. He was 

 born in Sweden, in the year 1707. 



EDWARD. 



Am I too young to learn botany? I think I 

 should like it very much. 



MOTHER. 



By no means, my dear. It is so simple a study, 

 that the youngest persons can understand it, when 



