Viil INTRODUCTION. 



What, indeed, would be that condition and that of the whole animal 

 world, if it were possible otherwise to exist, without the resources and 

 oeauties of the vegetable kingdom ? Not only would the face of the 

 earth be devoid of all that is now lovely, rich, animating and productive 

 in herb, shrub and tree, foliage, blossom and fruit, but nowhere would 

 oe seen the splendid arts of man which now adorn and diversify it. 

 Naked and houseless should we roam the bleak and barren world, 

 shrunk and deformed by withering blasts, or scorched beneath a torrid 

 sun, with all around a wide, wild and desolate waste. 



But little better should we be, enriched, enlivened and beautified as 

 is our fair earth, with all that is useful, charming and fruitful, were 

 we unacquainted with the nature and properties of the vegetable pro- 

 ductions by which we are surrounded. Thus, then, whilst nature 

 cheers and animates the world, and pours forth her fruitful treasures 

 upon the earth, she would be, in all else, rude and desolate but for 

 the use made of her bounties by the genius and necessities of man. 

 Hence it was at the first, and now is, our greatest interest and pleasure 

 to become acquainted with the vegetable products designed for our 

 life and happiness. 



But, though necessity has taught us the use of many of those prod- 

 ucts so important to life, and fashion that of others for the mere luxury 

 of sense, we are still unacquainted with many of their most valuable 

 qualities ; nor are the majority familiar with a tithe of what has been, 

 or may be known of their utility in the various purposes of life. 

 Nature does, indeed, point us to our beautiful mother earth, and ask 

 us to contemplate her all-bountiful bosom, of which we are so way- 

 wardly neglectful. She has spread for us a luxurious repast in the 

 vegetable kingdom substances innumerable that may be reproduced 

 and multiplied in quantity and variety without limits. She invites us 

 within her banqueting house and bids us select for ourselves among the 

 choicest of her products. She does not, as with many, demand even 

 the gathering, but she points out the best products and suggests to us the 

 uses to which they may be applied, in numerous ways, to our wants 

 in health and disease, or to our greatest convenience or luxury as food, 

 or as important objects in the useful and ornamental arts. 



To render thus familiar, then, the products and uses of vegetable na- 

 ture, as already determined by and known to others, and to induce 

 persons to reap the advantages of those uses, without the inconvenien- 

 ces of experience, is the design of the following pages. For this, little 

 or no studied or practical effort is necessary. The whole is intended 

 to exhibit the nature and useful qualities of fruits and vegetables, so 

 that any one may become familiar with them, or apply them to his use 

 in all the varied purposes of life ; and also that he may not at all times 

 depend on the dictum of the inexperienced, or the caprice and cupidity 

 of the interested, but may serve himself better and always in a manner 

 most satisfactory, economical and safe. 





