THE VEGETABLE WORLD. 325 



Vegetable world which are the means to ^Esthetic im- 

 pression. Here again we meet with two distinct subjects. 

 That which delights us in Nature, in the mass, the phe- 

 nomena of Nature perceived as a Whole, in a word, the 

 landscape, is a mosaic of separate and independently existing 

 and significant things. Wood and meadow, in contrast 

 to each other, and thus producing Beauty, are in themselves, 

 without reference to the share they take in the composition 

 of the greater Whole, characteristic formations of the 

 vegetable world, and each in an especial way composed of 

 particular kinds of plants into a definite aesthetic im- 

 pression. We might name such groupings of plants as 

 Wood, Meadow, Heath, &c., Plant Formations, and 

 they certainly deserve a far deeper investigation and 

 more careful representation than has hitherto fallen to their 

 share. 



But as we approach closer, we soon find that their 

 peculiar character again is conditioned in manifold ways by 

 the, so to speak, physiognomical expression of the species 

 of plants of which they are composed. The Botanist dis- 

 tinguishes by many kinds of characters, but best and most 

 scientifically by the peculiar differences and resemblances in 

 the entire course of development of Plants, larger and 

 smaller groups, which are commonly called Families. The 

 plants numbered in one family are united naturally by a 

 a narrow bond of relationship, and he who is accustomed 

 to refined physiognomical studies will not overlook the 

 finer family features in which all agree. But as on a large 

 scale, among men, those characteristics of race and marks 

 of variation, Calmuc-eyes, Negro-skulls, Roman-noses, 

 Blonde and Brunette complexions, &c., totally independant 

 of family relationship, first of all strike us, so also among 

 plants, it is not the resemblances or differences which are 

 produced by actual natural relationship, but altogether 



