INTRODUCTION. 



3 



The grass of the field on which animal life directly or 

 indirectly depends, occupies the greatest area, and may 

 be called the carpet of the earth. Vast plains, known in 

 different countries by the names of steppes, savannas, and 

 llanos, are covered with fern, heath, and scrub plantfs, 

 often indicating sterility, but sometimes the contrary, as 

 in the grassy pampas and prairies of America. In 

 northern latitudes large areas are occupied with mosses 

 and lichens, and in temperate and warm zones immense 

 forests form the grand aspects of nature on mountains 

 and plains. Plants also extend their domain by certain 

 kinds growing on others, of which the numerous species 

 of tropical Orchid, Arum, and Pine Apple families, as 

 well as the more humble race of Lichens and Mosses 

 that clothe the forests, are examples ; but these only ad- 

 here. Another class are what are termed parasites, the 

 Mistletoe being the only special example in this country, 

 though its allies are numerous in tropical countries. Both 

 fresh water and the sea abound in flowerless plants called 

 Algse, generally known as sea-weeds, which in some 

 places form extensive ocean forests, floating on the sur- 

 face in such density as to impede, and in some cases pre- 

 vent the navigation of ships. The last to be noticed are 

 the Fungi, which grow upon and ultimately reduce all 

 dead vegetable substances to their original element, and 

 even prey on the living. Having said thus much of the 

 dispersion of plants over the earth, we have next to con- 

 sider their most important and necessary use to man as 

 food. 



During the first two thousand years of Bible history 

 there is no information of what were the food plants of 

 man until the time of Noah, who " planted a vineyard" 

 and made wine ; but it is to be inferred that some kind 



B 2 



