THE PHILADELPHIA FLORIST. [June 



INTRODUCTION TO LECTURE 



ON THE 



CURIOSITIES OF VEGETATION, 



at Chinese Museum, May 14, 1852. 



It is interesting to examine the history of the objects which for the 

 most part serve us for food, and supply to our domestic animals also, 

 the requisites for their maintenance, many of which in turn are appro- 

 priated to the uses of the cuisine, the animals having assimilated the 

 herbs which are cultivated as forage to their own organization, and 

 rendered it more appropriate to our use. Many argue that we err in 

 depriving cattle of life, in order to convert them into food. I fear 

 some time will elapse before the error be abandoned. I would not 

 say that these do not state the truth; man is so formed as to assimilate 

 vegetables to his own system; and though it may be more convenient 

 to seize upon the already prepared matter — yet surely the cow and 

 sheep were not created to be slain by man. It is also interesting and 

 useful to know how many of the drugs which we swallow from year 

 to year are taken directly from plants — how many of our garments 

 are preparations of vegetable life, converted by art and through the 

 aid of machinery to that state in which they fill the stores and ware- 

 houses of our merchants. But in one lecture I could slightly touch 

 upon these matters ; the subject is endless. How many separate and 

 distinct plants are known to Botanists, is a question which no doubt 

 occurs to many persons. These we term species or distinct individu- 

 als, as for instance man himself, or the dog, both of which remain 

 unchanged, it is believed. I have mentioned man, because it is suffi- 

 ciently evident that he is distinct from all other creatures ; that he 

 does not become by change of climate, food or locality, anything else 

 than a reasoning, reflecting being, speaking and acting with a free 

 will, when permitted to do so, independent, as we term it, of any for- 

 eign or exterior agency. The cat also retains its carnivorous, prowl- 

 ing, nocturnal character and habits without alteration unless so by force 

 or interference with the provisions of nature. Then why should not 

 also plants preserve their individuality distinct! They do, it is be- 

 lieved. A species then is a distinct organized being. The number of 

 species of plants described by Botanists up to within a few years ago, 

 was, according to Loudon's Encyclopaedia, first additional supple- 

 ment, published in 1832, 18,109 ; according to Lindley's- Vegetable 

 Kingdom, 2d ed. 1847, 92,000; enumeration of species known to Bo- 

 tanists according to Humboldt, 86,000 in Delessert's Herbarium Paris, 

 \ 74,000 Royal Herbarium, Schoneberg ; 26,000 enumerated in Lou- 

 9b don's H. Brittanicus, 1832. But as yet no authentic enumeration has c h 

 (ibeen or can be made without the co-operation of Botanists. In theGj 



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