NuttaWs Introduction to Botany. 105 



The trees attain the most gigantic magnitude, and the forests 

 filled with evergreens, are nearly impervious to the rays of the 

 vertical sun ; here the vegetables continue throughout the 

 year in a state of active growth; dormancy in many of these 

 plants would be instant death ; the stream of vitality contin- 

 ues without interruption, and cold, before it attains the freez- 

 ing temperature, is capable of destroying the tender vegeta- 

 bles of this favored region. These plants, however, by their 

 inherent and constitutional temperament, are enabled to 

 resist, like animals, the destructive and drying effects of the 

 great heats to which they are exposed. So, also, the trees and 

 shrubs of cold climates retain the necessary moisture of their 

 vitality at temperatures, when other liquids would freeze. 



" The presence of organic life, inherited from preceding 

 individuals or parents of the same species, and only continued 

 for a very limited period, under the condition of a vital 

 movement of certain assimilating fluids, like the circulation 

 of the blood of animals, is a character common to all vege- 

 tables. They have also an inherent constitution varying 

 with the climate and the soils they occupy. These are 

 stfmulated passively by light, heat, and the ingredients of the 

 soil. Their abundance appears to be infinite ; and created 

 principally for the subsistence of animals : their destruction as 

 well as growth, is interminable. But though living they are 

 formed without sensibility, and without sentiment ; they have 

 neither nerves nor senses, wants nor pains, that are capable 

 of any perceptible expression. In the absence of nutriment 

 they perish, with it they thrive ; but show no more appearance 

 of attachment to existence, nor resistance to that which causes 

 its destruction, than the crystal of salt does to the conti- 

 guous agent, which effects its solution or decomposition.''' 

 pp. 219, 223. 



In this part of his undertaking the author acknowledges 

 himself indebted to the very elaborate work on vegetable 

 physiology, by Mr. Anthony Todd Thompson, published in 

 London : and although the sketch he has given is necessarily 

 very limited, we doubt not it will be perused with interest, not 

 only by persons to whom the subject is new, but also by 

 more advanced students. The work concludes by a glossary 

 of such important terms as have not been explained in the 

 progress of the work. It is accompanied by twelve very 

 beautiful Lithographic engravings ; and its entire execution is 



VouXIIL— No. 1. 14 



