44 i ON THE STUDY OF 



Thus in the present state of things, the vegeta- 

 ble world takes the most important part in the 

 economy of nature. For it is not only the chief 

 ornament and support of the globe we inhabit; 

 but, from its renovating influence on the atmos- 

 phere, and from the subsistence it affords, it is 

 the great source of life and perpetuation to the 

 animal kingdom. It forms the basis of agricul- 

 ture, of most of the arts, of navigation, and of 

 general commerce ; and through those various 

 channels, it gives an impulse to human industry, 

 from which alone most of the prosperity and 

 blessings we enjoy have emanated. And if to 

 these considerations, we add its localizing ten- 

 dency, and the domestic habits which result, so 

 essential to civilization and personal happiness ; 

 we shall at once comprehend the importance of 

 the subject, and how much it becomes our duty 

 to study its laws in all their various applications, 

 whether as a matter of philosophical inquiry, or 

 practically considered, as contributing to those 

 wants and conveniences of which, in our present 

 imp'erfect condition, we so essentially stand in 

 need. 



After this cursory view of botany, we must 

 now pass over to the animal kingdom, the last 

 subject of natural history for consideration ; the 

 science of which has been denominated zoology. 



The study of zoology branches out into so 

 many important divisions, that I regret it will 



