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and elements, and relations, in which the God of 

 nature placed them. These last it is which constitute 

 the most interesting, instructive, and important part of 

 their study. 



Another advantage for the study of natural history 

 possessed by those who reside constantly in the coun- 

 try, arises from the opportunity furnished for observing 

 the various indigenous productions through all the sea- 

 sons of the year, and through all their periods and sta- 

 ges of growth and decay. The natural history of veg- 

 etables can be well understood only by observing the 

 soil, the seed, the germination, the growth, the leaves, 

 the flowers, the fruits, the structure and the decay ; and 

 the study of these requires their constant presence and 

 a continuous series of observations. Arid the same is 

 true of the animal kingdom, and especially of the ani- 

 mals of the lower order. What could we learn of the 

 natural history of an insect by observing it in only one 

 of the stages of its existence ? To obtain a knowl- 

 edge of its history, it must be studied in all its stages. 

 The egg, the larva, the pupa and the imago, all these 

 their developement, growth, food and habitat, from 

 stage to stage ; all these must be carefully observed, 

 in order that' its complete history be understood. And 

 what class of men is so favorably situated for making 

 these observations as our agriculturists our farmers 

 who reside in the country, and spend a large propor- 

 tion of their time in the fields, and in places where 

 these various processes and metamorphoses are con- 

 stantly going on before their eyes '? 



Such are the advantages which country places offer, 

 and which those who reside in the country might enjoy ; 

 but we find them almost universally unheeded. The 



