366 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



to be intended for the purpose of separating 

 the channels of seed : for we find nothing 

 superfluous in nature,— each part necessarily 

 combines to form the whole ; nor is there any 

 thing wanting to complete the admirable 

 formation of vegetables, which by their pecu- 

 liar actions produce such modifications and 

 substances as must lead us to say, with 

 Thomson, 



" Tis surely God, 



Whose unremitting energy pervades, 

 Adjusts, sustains, and agitates the whole; 

 He ceaseless works alone ; and yet alone 

 Seems not to work, with such perfection framed 

 Is this complex, stupendous scheme of things." 



Having given our opinion of the mushroom, 

 rather to induce a stricter scrutiny of its 

 formation, than to shew a desire of deviating 

 from other writers, we conclude it will be 

 somewhat interesting to ascertain the opi- 

 nions of the ancients with respect to this 

 curious vegetable ; for, notwithstanding their 

 fondness for mushrooms, they had not dis- 

 covered the art of propagating them. 



Pliny says, mushrooms were thought one 

 of the wonders of nature, that they should 

 live and grow without a root, or even small 

 strings to fix them to the earth, and that 



