32 BOTANY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 



plants, to which most of the matter we have 

 gone over, has been but preliminary. 



THIRD CONVERSATION. 



E. Well, Laura, I perceive you are ready to 

 commence the study of classification. You un- 

 derstand enough of the elementary organs to 

 proceed without further trouble. But before we 

 commence will you find out the meaning of the 

 word Botany ? 



L. It is said to be derived from a Greek word 

 signifying the history of the vegetable kingdom. 

 Its object is to examine the different parts or 

 organs of plants, and explain their functions : 

 and to compare one with another so as to make 

 a basis of discrimination. 



E. There are 100,000 different species of 

 plants known at the present time, and this num- 

 ber is constantly increasing by new discoveries. 



L. What is a species ? 



E. Linneus thought, what was undoubtedly 

 the case, that there were as many species as dif- 

 ferent forms of vegetables produced at the 

 creation. It is in the knowledge of the great- 



ft. 



