PART I. 



VEGETABLE ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY. 



1, Botany is that science which treats of plants, and, in 

 its most extensive application, makes us acquainted with the 

 structure, vital action, classification, uses and distribution of 

 vegetables. 



2# A plant is an organized being, receiving its nourishment, 

 which is always fluid, by absorption, generally through roots ; 

 and elaborating it by exposure to the combined action of air 

 and light, on the surface of leaves or stems, and afterwards as- 

 similating it to its own substance. 



3. The science of Botany is generally divided into several 

 subjects for separate investigation : 



(1.) The structure of vegetables, or vegetable anatomy, or 

 organography {organon, an organ, and grapho, I describe), con- 

 sisting of a description of the various vegetable tissues, and the 

 organs which these tissues compose. 



(2.) Morphology (morphe, shape or form, and logos, a dis- 

 course) which describes the various changes organs may un- 

 dergo in course of development, in respect to form, consist- 

 ence, size, composition, &c. 



(3.) Vegetable Physiology, or that branch of the science 

 which has for its object the investigation of the functions of 

 vegetable organs ; or of all that belongs to vegetables as living 

 beings. 



(4.) Taxonomy [taxis, order, and nomos, law), which treats 

 of the laws and principles of classification. 



Taxonomy is that branch of Botany which has for its aim 

 an arrangement of all the species of the vegetable kingdom in 



1. What is Botany ? With what does it make us acquainted ? — 2. What 

 in a plant ? — 3. How is the science of Botany divided ? What is the 1st 

 division? 2d? 3d? 4th? 



