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CHAPTER III. 



USES OE LICHENS. 



" Things which are often deemed the most insignificant and contemptible 

 by ignorant men, are by the good providence of God made the means of the 

 greatest blessings to his creatures." — Lightfoot. 



" Ne doutons point que chaque chose n'ait recu sa place dans l'ordre etabli 

 par l'Eternel ; toutes les plantes seroient reconnues pour etre utiles, s'il etoit 

 donne a l'homme de tout connoitre." — Willemet. 



We shall consider, firstly, the great importance of Lichens 

 in the grand economy of Nature, as the pioneers and basis 

 of all vegetation ; and secondly, their various applications to 

 the comforts or necessities of man. Under the latter head 

 we shall speak of their uses, in the form of food, to man 

 and the lower animals, and their applications in medicine 

 and the arts. 



The late Dr. Patrick Neill, — in his excellent article Lichens 

 in the e Edinburgh Encyclopaedia/ to which we have much 



