94 ON VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY. 



Hence the forest, or vegetation upon its largest 

 scale, by the shelter it afforded, laid the founda- 

 tion for the science of architecture, probably 

 among the earliest of human efforts, since brought 

 to such useful and ornamental perfection. Hence 

 the smaller vegetable productions, which, in a cer- 

 tain degree, the earth also naturally afforded, and 

 from which man in his primitive state derived 

 his principal, if not only support, becoming dispro- 

 portioned to the advancement of population, gave 

 rise to the invention of agriculture, and progres- 

 sively to all the improvements of which it has 

 since been found susceptible ; now forming the 

 pillar stone of human wealth and grandeur the 

 basis of modern commerce and, in this favoured 

 country, the link by which the best interests of 

 society are kept together, and the national cha- 

 racter preserved in its utmost purity. 



From a more perfect knowledge of the proper- 

 ties and capabilities of the different vegetable 

 substances, and which architecture and agricul- 

 ture, and the various inventions to which they 

 have given rise, have greatly promulgated ; we 

 have obtained those materials that now give em- 

 ployment to our mechanics and our various ma- 

 nufacturers ; by which we are furnished with 

 materials for the chief part of our buildings with 

 ships for our protection and commerce with our 

 carriages of every kind, and the furniture of our 

 houses and, we may briefly add, with nearly 



