THE VEGETABLE WORLD. 341 



other separate little features is the picture composed, which 

 meets us with so foreign a character and such attractive 

 charms. 



When we speak of Plant-formations we borrow this 

 expression from another Science, Geognosy, and think, so far 

 as a comparison is admissible, to mark a similarity. In the 

 same way that in the geognostic consideration of the earth's 

 surface, we first of all distinguish between level land and 

 chains of mountains, we may here also in the application of 

 these considerations to the vegetable world, first divide, as 

 two primary forms, the Plains from the Woods. Each of 

 these primary divisions falls again into particular forma- 

 tions, and these it is, which here and there developed, 

 appearing prominent or repressed, determine here, as in 

 Geognosy the geognostic, the vegetative, landscape character 

 of a country. Especially in the investigation and delinea- 

 tion of these formations really lies the charm which is 

 usually, by a confusion of ideas, ascribed to the Geography 

 of Plants. This can and will pursue scientific aims, set 

 itself theoretical problems and solve them and 



" Grey, dear friend, is every Theory." 



But " green, the golden tree of Life ;" and it has been 

 pointed out how it is exactly this impassable to rigid 

 science, aesthetic side of Nature, which, though mysterious 

 and difficult to trace in its action, yet interferes most 

 powerfully, determining, restraining or furthering the course 

 of spiritual development. " As the Man, so is his God," 

 is certainly true, but we must go farther than this and add, 

 Man in the earliest stages of his culture is as the Nature 

 amid which he has grown up. 



On the other hand, we must not neglect to expose an 

 essential distinction wherein the Geognostic formation differs 



