150 



KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



are known as Saffron ; Cloves are the unex- 

 pantled buds of a species of Myrtle ; and Manna 

 is the exudation of one of the Ash tribe. 



To the proper appreciation of the uses and 

 funct ons of Plants, a knowledge of Botany 

 s indispensable; and the foundation of the 

 science may be laid, and the superstructure 

 subsequently raised, with a limited scope 

 for observation and the outlay of a mere trifle. 

 These facts ought to constrain all to become 

 acquainted with the wonders of Vegetable 

 Physiology; and appear to present no 

 obstacles as a stimulus to that acquirement. 

 Nature invites attention and examination, and 

 courts inquiry ; yielding her truths to investi- 

 gating minds. 



When I commenced the study, I rose at 

 four and continued till seven (when business 

 demanded my return) ; and with a small 

 treatise in my hands, and specimen box at 

 my side, I wandered through charming 

 meadows, luxuriant corn fields, by the side 

 of murmuring streams, and adjacent hills ; 

 nor did I forsake marshes and swampy ground 

 and secluded woods, but visited each in turn ; 

 and on my return home arranged my collec- 

 tions in the drying press, and afterwards 

 extended them in methodical order in my Her- 

 barium. It was then that I stored up facts, 

 and the major part of what little I know. 



Gradually but surely did the hitherto 

 veiled wonders reveal themselves, and imper- 

 ceptibly I became versed in the relations of 

 organs to each other. Every part — root, 

 stem, leaves, stipules, bracts, appendages, 

 transformations, and elaborations, in turn 

 occupied attention, and were systematically 

 digested. I culled, simultaneously, facts and 

 flowers, heaths and health. The pleasure, 

 too, of seeing the rising sun, the opening 

 flowers, and the return to animation of 

 reposed nature, the pure air, the cheerful' 

 greeting of the birds, and the numberless 

 charms unknown till met with, — formed a 

 treat not dreamt of before, and abundantly 

 repaid my efforts. 



Often have I watched two neighboring 

 daisies ; the one warmed by the sun, and in 

 full blow, the other gradually opening as his 

 genial rays became felt. Well and truthfully 

 does Mrs. Marcet say, that, " Botany elevates 

 the heart while it enlightens the mind ; and 

 tends quite as much to religious contempla- 

 tion as to scientific knowledge." It is from 

 wild flow r ers, and weeds too, that Botanical 

 truths are gathered, rather than from cul- 

 tivated monstrosities, — another inducement 

 to the study, as these may be obtained every 

 where ; yes, even in the heart of London 

 there are facilities, if the will be paramount. 



The natural system is by far the better of 

 the two, for gaining a clear insight ; yet the 

 Linnaean possesses great merits. The former 

 amply repays for the extra time and attention 



bestowed on its acquaintance. Plants are 

 divided into flowering and flowerless, and 

 the former into Exogens and Endogens 

 (called also Mono and Dicotyledons, from 

 their having respectively one seed leaf, or. if 

 more, arranged alternately, and having two 

 seed leaves or cotyledons) . Exogens increase 

 by additions of new wood, exterior to the 

 last formed ; consequently the centre of the 

 tree is the hardest ; and by a transverse 

 section each layer may readily be distin- 

 guished ; and as each one took a season for 

 its deposition, the age of the tree may, by 

 counting, be ascertained. Endogens, on the 

 contrary, grow by depositions to the interior ; 

 this, therefore, is the softer part, and the cir- 

 cumference is gradually pushed outward. 

 On examination, the contents form an in- 

 distinguishable mass ; no concentric deposits 

 being observed as in the former case. The 

 first embrace our forest trees, most shrubs, 

 and indigenous plants. The second division 

 is best illustrated by the Palms ; and Grass 

 tribe, seen in extenso in bamboos and canes. 

 The flowerless plants comprise Ferns, Algse, 

 Lichens, Mosses, and Fungi. The leaves 

 of Exogens and Endogens, present features 

 w T hereby each division may be ascertained ; 

 the former having the veins reticulated, 

 they intersect one another and form a net 

 work. The latter have the veins proceeding 

 in lines parallel to each other from the petiole 

 (leaf stalk) to the apex of the lamina (broad 

 green portion). They do not meet and cross 

 one another. The organs of plants are of 

 two kinds — nutritive and reproductive, each 

 possessed of peculiar and important properties. 

 Those of nutrition are — Root and its attend- 

 ant radicles, Stem, Bark and Leaves. Of 

 reproduction, Calyx, Corolla, Stamens, Pistil, 

 Pericarp, and seed. We purpose giving an 

 outline of each. 



The root assumes various forms, tapshaped, 

 fibrous, bulbous, &c; and it is by means of 

 the spongioles at the extremities of its fibres 

 that the food is absorbed from the ground ; 

 and by capillary attraction, and a peculiar 

 process, called Endosmose, that this is subse- 

 quently distributed through all parts of the 

 plant, forming the sap. The stem is the 

 communicating pipe, is succulent, full of 

 vessels, and £ of various shapes, composed 

 in the Exogenae of pith (medulla) Medullary 

 rays, wood in concentric layers, and bark ; 

 and is either annual, biennial, or perennial. 

 The bark i.s composed of several layers ; the 

 outer called Epidermis, and the inner, Liber. 

 Leaves, as before intimated, perform the 

 functions of lungs. It is through them that 

 the superfluous gases are given off and the 

 necessary ones inhaled. One need only go 

 to Kew to see them in every variety of shape 

 and size. They are usually found disposed in 

 a symmetrical manner on the branches, and 



