INTRODUCTION. 21 



Plants appear, also, to be susceptible of contracting 

 habits: the mimosa, or sensitive plant, if conveyed in a 

 carriage, closes its leaves as soon as the carriage is in 

 motion, but after some time it becomes accustomed to it, 

 the contraction ceases, and the leaves expand ; but if the 

 carriage stops for any length of time, and afterwards re- 

 commences its motion, the plant again folds its leaves, 

 and it is time only which can reconcile it to its new sit- 

 uation. 



Emily. This evinces strong symptoms of sensibility. 

 One would suppose that the plant was alarmed at the 

 new and unknown state of motion ; and that its appre- 

 hension, like that of an infant, returned every time the 

 novelty recurred. 



Mrs. B. You will, perhaps, consider plants as patri- 

 otic, when you learn that those which are brought from 

 the southern hemisphere, faithful to the seasons of their 

 native country, make vain attempts to bud and blossom 

 during our frosty winter, and seem to expect their sultry 

 summer at Christmas. 



Caroline. If you continue thus, Mrs. B. , you will 

 certainly make me think that plants are not wholly devoid 

 of sensibility. 



Mrs. B. We cannot positively deny it ; but the evi- 

 dence against that opinion is so strong as to amount al- 

 most to proof. Had providence endowed plants with the 

 sensations of pleasure and of pain, he would, at the same 

 time, have afforded them the means of seeking the one 

 and avoiding the other. Instinct is given to animals 

 for that express purpose, and reason to man ; but a plant 

 rooted in the earth is a poor, patient, passive being : its 

 habits, its irritability, and its contractibility, all depending 

 on mere physical causes. 



The properties of plants may be separated into two 

 classes : first, those which relate to their structure ; such 

 as their elasticity, their hygromatric power : these prop- 



53. What account is given of the mimosa when conveyed in a car- 

 riage 1 54. What is the remark of Emily on it 1 ? 55. What is stat- 

 ed of plants brought from a southern to a northern hemisphere'? 56. 

 Had Providence endowed plants with the sensations of pleasure and pain, 

 what else would he have afforded theml 57. What is the difference 

 between animals and vegetables, so far as this purpose is considered! 

 58. Into how many classes may the properties of plants be divided, and 

 what are they 1 ? 



