BOTANY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 13 



is related about the expedition sent some time 

 since with the view of discovering the spot 

 where the celebrated La Peyrouse was ship- 

 wrecked. The whole of the crew, from the 

 necessaiy confinement produced by the length 

 of the voyage, became afflicted with scurvy, and 

 were suffering greatly, when prompt relief was 

 afforded by the use of an unknown plant of the 

 Cruciform family that was discovered on the 

 coast of New Holland by a botanist attached to 

 the expedition. As the Cruciform family is in 

 all its branches anti-scorbutic, he became aware 

 the moment he met with a cross-shaped flower, 

 which is the distinguishing mark of that family, 

 that he had found a means of cure, though he 

 could not tell the name of the plant. Had the 

 traveller you speak of understood botany, he 

 need not have had recourse to the lower ani- 

 mals to discover the properties of his roots. 



L. But if there were no flowers to be seen 

 could he tell in that case ? 



E. Most likely, for there are other marks 

 Avhich you will find out when you proceed, as I 

 hope you will, in the study of this science. 



L. I have never felt as if I should like to 

 study it. There are so many hard names, I 



