8 PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



cultivated vegetables, in the proper statistics of the farm, which 

 might otherwise find a place in the Botanical Report. 



OF THE USELESS PLANTS. 



A large number of the plants which are considered useless, 

 because they have yet no known application, are particularly 

 described in this Report. They occupy space ; they aid in cov- 

 ering the earth with vegetable life. They are, indeed, iceeds, 

 and often considered as mere nuisances. What is the advantage 

 derived from them ? What object is designed by them ? Can 

 any one be in truth useless 9 Certainly not, is the reply to the 

 last question. The others may receive the following answers : 



1. The vegetable kingdom is the great means of purifying the 

 atmosphere, so that it may sustain the animal kingdom. Respira- 

 tion of animals, and various operations in nature, produce such a 

 change as tends to make the atmosphere unfit for its great office. 

 Its oxygen has become combined with carbon, or the essence of 

 charcoal, and cannot be separated by the lungs so as to support 

 life. This separation is effected by vegetables. They take up 

 the carbon and restore the oxygen to the atmosphere. They do 

 this as they grow in the air, and also as they grow in and under 

 water. Provision is made for the absorption of carbonic acid by 

 water, and thus food is supplied to plants, and life to animals. 

 This is one of the most beautiful provisions in the economy of 

 Divine Providence. It has sometimes been doubted whether 

 vegetables were able completely to accomplish the object. None 

 have maintained, however, that they did not operate largely and 

 chiefly to this end. Even the general opinion seems to be strong- 

 ly in favor of their perfectly effecting this purpose. To ac- 

 complish this object, vegetables must be spread widely over the 

 earth. It might not be sufficient to depend upon the results of 

 cultivation. Besides, the vegetables must be formed for growth 

 through all the warm season of the year, and in all the variety of 

 soil, situation, climate, condition. Plants that are directly useful, 



