362 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



June -1, 1830. 



taken only from the seven parls of fruc- 

 tificalion, unnotiecil in the definitio«is of the chiss- 

 es utiti orders. The genus has all the marks of 

 ittt classes and order, and some o'.liers peculiar 

 to itself. 



Tho genera arc diviiled into specit!!', or individ- 

 uals. The specific character is that peculiar mark 

 or marks which distinguish the dilVurcnt species, 

 one from another, and these distinguishing marks 

 arc taken from all parts of the plant not noticed 

 in the defmilions of the classes, orders and gene- 

 ra. The roots, stems, form of the leaves, appen- 

 dages, &r, aflbrd distinctions that mark the spe- 

 cies. The species has all the marks of its class, 

 order, and geiiu.s, and some others peculiar to it- 

 self 



The varieties of the species happen from casual 

 causes, generally from seed, or cidtivalion, or 

 hoth ; and are numerous in the apple family. 



Let one example suffice. 

 tXAS3. OBDER. GENUS. 



SPECIES. VARIETIES. 

 I Baldwin, Ru»i'l, 

 Apple. \ it/c. 



anilria. PonUgynii 



iPeai. 

 I ftuince. 



Scciili), 



I FuH, VViiitor. 



When an unknown plant is found, first count 

 the ^taulens and pointals, and notice any other 

 circumstance attending these organs (as to pro- 

 j)ortion, situation, &c,) on wljicli the character of 

 the classes and orders are founded. Having thus 

 easily ascertained tlie class and order to which 

 the plant belongs, ne.\t, in soma practical work 

 on the subject, compare the parts of its flower 

 and fruit with the characters of every genus in 

 that order, until the one is found with which it 

 agrees. Having thus found the generic or family 

 name, next, in like manner, rood over the char- 

 acter of the specii's, if the genus consist of more 

 than one, until the one is found that applies. Thus 

 the generic an ! specific name of the plant is 

 found. 



A little practice will be necessary to render 

 the clashes and orders fiimiliar, beginning with 

 the tulip, lily and rose, and such flowers as have 

 the essential organs most conspicuous. A mag- 

 nifier will be necessary to inspect small flowers, 

 .1 Jew observations by wktck the qualities of many 

 plants may be known. 



I'lant.-5 with a glume caly.x, as in rye, Indian 

 corn, &c, arc wholesome. 



Whenever the stamens are found to grow out 

 of the caly.x, whether they be many, as in Icosan- 

 dria, ( r few, as in the currant, they indicate the 

 fruits of such plants to be wlndcsome. 



The whole class, Tetradynamia, stamens 4 long 

 and 2 short, having cruciform flowers is wliole- 

 Honic. 



Plants having a pnpilionace<iU3 or pea flower, 

 mostly bi.lonning to the class Uiadelphia are 

 wholesome. Wild indigo and the .seeds of labnr- 

 iimn are excepiions. 



Plants belonging to the class Syngencsia arc 

 hnrinless. 



Plants belonging to Didrnainia Gymnospermia, 

 and the ringent (lowers with naked seeds allie<l 

 thereto, which having two stamens, are of course 

 placed in the i-lass Diandria, ore idl harmless or 

 wliolesoijie. Those plants whii-h belong to the 

 Bome cla.s.s, but to thi; second onler Angiosprrnm, 

 seeds in a seed vessel are narcoiii: and dangerous, 

 being allind to those plants, having five slamcns 

 and one poinlal with nauseous flavor, in class and 



order Pentandrio Monogynia, known to he poi- 

 sonous. 



rmhclliferous plants having 5 stoii:> ...s and two 

 pointals growing on a dry soil and of agreeable 

 odor, are generally harmless aromutics ; but 

 those growing in a wet soil with nauseous flavor 

 are generally poisonous. 



Whenever the nectary is a distinct organ from 

 the corolla,ithe plants to which it belongs arc to he 

 suspected. 



Plants producing a while substance when cut 

 or bridien, e.\cept such as have compound flowers 

 are to be suspected. 



The liliaceous tribe arc often dangerous, espec- 

 ially the roots. 



The wholesome qualities of plants are general- 

 ly indicated by an agreeable flavor and taste ; the 

 (langcrous ones, generally having a disagreeable 

 flavor and nauseous taste. 



We have now gone through with what was in- 

 tendeil, merely a general view of the subject, and 

 shall conclude with a few remarks. 



The structure of plants and the manner in 

 whic|) nature takes to continue the species are 

 subjects of admiration, and to many an inexhaus- 

 tible source of delight. They show to man the 

 wisdom, goodness, and power of the munificent 

 Creator. Shall any one despise those firoduc- 

 tion.s, which the Creator hath jjronounced, ' very 

 good,' as useless and unworthy the notice of man, 

 fur whom they were made ? Every plant was 

 made with a design to answer some irn()ortant 

 purpose in the great scale of nature. There is not 

 a flower, nor leaf, nor buil, but what shows traces 

 of infinite power and wistlom. The mysteries of 

 vegetation have excited the attention of the wisest 

 and the best of men, anil they are not yet unfold- 

 ed. The most profound ])hilosopher can exuluin 

 only a small part of the womlertul process of na- 

 ture in the Ibrmation of a single plant. The 

 heedless observer of a single leaf is not aw:ire of 

 the chemical process, that is carried on in i:s sub- 

 stance, forming various compounds. 



The study of vegetable economy is hi'ldy in- 

 teresting to the young cultivator of the soil. The 

 more the subject is tniderstood the more pleasing 

 and interesting it becomes. It is i)eculiarly prop- 

 er for the youth in general. It is not like novels 

 and romances, (with which the world is overload- 

 ed,) which corrupt the jiassions, create a fiilse 

 taste, enervate the mind and of course the body, 

 and afford no useful knowle<lge whatever ; but on 

 the contrary, it softens the passions, improves the 

 taste, enlightens the understanding, aff'ords much 

 usefid information, and teaches us the wisdom and 

 power of the Creator in his works. 



As to Horticulture, with which our subject 

 seems more closely connected, it is base<l on the 

 best foundation, being established in the fitness of 

 things by infinite wisdom. It was the first em- 

 ployment of man. An exercise the most con<lu- 

 cive to health, and himian happiness. 'The l.onl 

 Goil planted a garden,' in whic-h be ' made to 

 grow 'the most choice and beautiful plants and 

 trees, both for use and ornafiii'iit, even 'every tree 

 that is pleasant to the sight and gooil for food, and 

 there he put the man whom he had formed, to 

 dress, prune and order,' the various sp^'cies, 'and In 

 keep it,' from the ravages of insects ond other 

 creatures wlii< li might injure it. 



This garden, planned and execnied by the Su- 

 preme Hcing, nnist have been a place of coiisum- 

 mate delight. All was peace nnd harmony, nrler 

 and neatness, boaiily and iunocenco. The shady 



groves and the meandering stream, which water- 

 ed the garden, added grandeur lo the scenery. 

 There bloomed the lily and the rose, whose fra- 

 grance spread ii rich perfume, ami whose beauties 

 declared ' their maker God.' And in the 'midst,' 

 there stood a tree, now lost, the life preserving 

 tree, w hose healing virtues would restore lost ini- 

 mortalily, and insure perpetual youth and vigor. 

 The gardener, however, proving unfaithful and 

 disobedient, was not permitted to receive its bene- 

 fits; but was expelled from this place of bliss, and 

 much was lost. 



There is something peculiarly pleading in a gar- 

 den — a thousand objects are presented to view, 

 nfforifnig instruction ; health is |iromoted ; the 

 mind invigorated, and the best feelings cultiva- 

 teil. It serves both for exercise and diversion, 

 rclircinent and contemplalioD, and smooths the 

 ' pathway to the tomb.' 



' Go view the path by nature trod. 

 And lih your thouglils to nature's God.' 



Let all who can, plani a little paradise, and so 

 'drss and keep it.' as that, from its order and 

 neatness, it shall have some fiiint resemblance to 

 the one above faintly described, and by continu- 

 ance in well doing, receive a rich reward. 



nl — line 3*.', for • anil' read end — |)age 

 I the cal)X* read Ibe calyx — pa^e 3&1y 

 re' rcudcymoic. 



FOR THE SEW JCNGLASD FARMICR. 



A FAINT TI.ME 



It is now for horses ; when the warmth of the 

 season is gradually increasing, their labor cornea 

 lianler upon them, and if the constitution is not 

 fxtrtfectly sound, it will show itself, and may re- 

 quire occasionally some assistance. A careful 

 master shouM know how to treat, and bow to doc- 

 tor his own horse, and avoid ailminisiering strong 

 •nedicines with the eff<.'cls of which be is not well 

 acquainled. I have owned but few horses and 

 have kepi them until nearly wiirn out by age. I have 

 found the use of salt to be very valuable; it gives 

 much firmness to a borse, ami if he is lroublr<! 

 with worms the stcaily use of it will by ilegrei\^ 

 clear tliein away ; this ilaily pickling they will not 

 hear long. I generally give my horse soakej corn : 

 that is, throw water over it about twentyfour 

 hours befn-e it is used ; this method saves time 

 and toil, and the corn being softened, it saves the 

 horse's teeth, and gelling more perfectly maslica- 

 teil goes further fur food. A good handful of salt 

 is thrown over it at feeding time ; however, 

 horse is ]ierfectly firm and soniid, the use of salt 

 may be omitted now anil then for n short while, 

 and then begun again. It is a safe guardian and 

 ought not to be disconrmiied long. 



As an alterative medicine, I have found aires tof*'' 

 be invohiable ; they strengthen the organs of dl 

 gcstion and respiration, and when a horse is irou- 

 lilcd in any manner in his wind, and when his slo- 

 macli is out of ordi^r, cillier by flHluleiicy, costive 

 ncs.s, or want of a]>petile, the use of aloes will 

 be of great service to him. It »ln»ild bcgiveii re 

 luced to a fine powder, in small doses, not ex- 

 ceeding four drachms at a lime, ami mi\t with ihi 



orse's pniin ; alter a few ilays it should be ilia- 'Hi 

 continued fin- a w Idle, when the use of it may lit Ri^ 

 resumeil, as there appears lo be a necessity for it 

 Said di>se mi\t with a small quantity of ms|te4l 

 rhubarb, and coniinueil for arfi-w days, will purge, 

 and is tho safest medicine for a horse. C.doiual *^i\ 



lim 



