Agriculture. *>31 



vessel that it is impossible to doubt their being a mere modifica- 

 tion of it, and in others the analogy cannot be traced. Fig. 4, 

 Vascular tissue always consists oi' tribes that are imbranched. 

 The kinds of tissue now enumerated are all that have yet been 

 discovered in the fabric of a vegetable. There are, however, seve- 

 ral other internal parts, although not elementary, being them- 

 selves made up of those we have just described ; such are the 

 Air Cells, Receptacles of Secretion Glands, &c. 



Agriculture. 



Tyas remarks that corn, that is the principal grain of every 

 country, is nowhere to be found in its primitive state. It seems 

 to have been confided by Providence to the care of man, with 

 the use of fire, to secure him the sceptre of the earth. With 

 corn and fire, all other gifts may be dispensed with or ac- 

 quired. With corn alone we could nourish every domestic ani- 

 mal which affords flesh for our sustenance, shares our labors, or 

 which may be in various ways serviceable to us. The pig, the 

 hen, the duck, the pigeon, the ass, the sheep, the goat, the horse, 

 the cow, the cat, the dog ; each renders us something in return 

 for our care. We receive from each, according to nature, either 

 eggs or milk, bacon or wool, various meats, or services. Corn 

 is the first bond of society, because its culture and preparation 

 for our use require great labor and reciprocal services. From 

 its inestimable value, the ancients called the goddess Ceres the 

 Legislatrix. 



There are occasions when food is much more highly esteemed 

 than the possession of riches. An Arab, wandering in the 

 desert, had not tasted food for the space of two days, and began 

 to be apprehensive of famine. In passing near a well where 

 the caravans stopped, he perceived a little leathern sack on 

 the sand. He took it up, saying, " God be praised, it is, I 

 think, a little flour." He hastened to open the sack, but at the 

 sight of its contents, he cried, " How unfortunate I am ! it is 

 only some gold powder !" 



Howitt says, the harvest is a time for universal gladness of the 

 heart. Nature has completed her most important operations. 



