INTRODUCTION. 15 



they have been formed to answer the purposes of their own 

 multiplication and preservation, but how admirably they 

 answer the higher purpose which Nature has assigned 

 them, of ministering to the welfare of a superior order of 

 beings the animal creation ; and more especially to that 

 of man. He turns his attention particularly to point out 

 the means by which the science of botany can promote 

 that with which it is most intimately and importantly con- 

 nected agriculture. He prepares the soil and sows the 

 seed for the husbandman ; he extracts the healing juices 

 and the salutary poisons for the physician ; he prepares 

 materials for the weaver, colours for the dyer ; in a word, 

 as he proceeds there is scarcely an art on which he does 

 not confer some benefit, either by pointing out a new 

 truth, or warning against an ancient error. Thus, through- 

 out his course, his principal aim is to promote, by his vast 

 stock of knowledge, the welfare of his fellow-creatures. 



Emily. Treated in this point of view, botany cannot, 

 I think, fail to interest us. 



Mrs. B. It is rather the physiology of botany which 

 I propose teaching you ; and I shall merely give you such 

 an insight into classification as is necessary to enable you 

 to understand the structure and character of plants. 



Mr. De Candolle entered upon the subject by observ- 

 ing, that, in classing the various productions of Nature, 

 the first great line of demarcation is that which separates 

 the mineral kingdom from organised beings. How 

 would you make the distinction ? 



Caroline. Nothing more obvious : organized beings 

 have life, and minerals have not. 



Mrs. B. Very true ; yet I should be tempted to re- 

 tort upon you, that this distinction is rather of names 

 than of ideas. I believe I have before observed to you, 

 that we know not what life is. We see its effects : they 

 are sufficiently apparent and numerous ; and it is only by 



10. To what does he particularly turn his attention in doing this! 

 11. What illustration is made showing how much Botany is connected 

 with the arts'? 12. What wc:s his principal aim! 13. What part 

 of the science does Mrs. B. propose teaching! 14. In classing the 

 various productions of nature, what is the first great line of demarcation 

 mentioned by the professor! 15. How does Caroline make this dis- 

 tinction! 16. What does Mrs. B. say of life! 17. What does 

 she say in illustration of the distinction of Caroline between minerals and 

 organized beings. 



