LESSON 1.] BOTANY, WnAT IT RF.LATKS TO. 3 



earth and air, upon which animals cannot snl)sist at all, and to con- 

 vert these into something upon which animals can suhsist, that is, 

 into food. All food is produced hij plants. I low this is done, it is 

 the province of Vcgetahle Pliysiolojry to explain. 



8. Botany is the name of the science of the vegetable kingdom in 

 general. 



'.'. Physiology is the study of the way a living being lives, and 

 grows, anil pertbrms its various operations. The study of plants in 

 this view is the province of Vegetable Physiology. The study of the 

 form and structure of the organs or parts of the vegetable, by which 

 its operations are peHbrnied, is the province of Structural Botany. 

 The two together constitute Physiological Botany. Witii this de- 

 partment the study of Botany should begin ; both because it lies 

 at the foundation of all the rest, and because it gives that kind of 

 knowledge of plants which it is desirable every one should possess ; 

 that is, some knowledge of the way in which plants live, grow, and 

 fulfil the purposes, of their existence. To this subject, accordingly, 

 a large portion of the ibllowing Lessons is devoted. 



10. The study of plants as to their kinds is the province of Sys- 

 tematic Botany. An enumeration of the kinds of vegetables, as far 

 as known, classilied according to their various degrees of resemblance 

 or difference, constitutes a general Si/stcm of plants. A similar ac- 

 count of the vegetables of any particular country or district is called 

 a Flora of that country or district. 



11. Other departments of Botany come to view when — instead 

 of regarding plants as to wliat llicy are in thenisclvcs. or as to ilieir 

 relationship with each othiM* — \\r. consider them in their relations 

 to other things. Tiieir relation to the eartlu (or instance, as respects 

 their distribution over its surl'ace, gives i-ise to Geographical Botany, 

 or Botanical Geography. The study of the vegetation of former 

 times, in their fossil remains entombed in tlie crust of the earth, 

 gives rise to Fossil Botany. The study of jilants in respect to their 

 uses to man is the province of Agricultural Botany, Medical Botany, 

 and the like. 



