2 
ILLUSTRATIONS OF 
economy of vegetables^ and the general appearance of 
Nature. From an acquaintance with these^ many 
advantages have already accrued to man^ and from a 
more intimate knowledge of them many more will 
doubtless be derived. The husbandman ought to 
know the character of the tame animals which he 
employs ; what advantages are to be derived from 
them ; whether there are others that would suit his 
purpose better ; where they are to be found ; how 
they are to be procured^ and how supported ; the 
qualities of the soil he cultivates^ and the means of 
managing and improving it ; the nature of the grains 
and grasses which he raises^ and whether he might 
not with, advantage substitute different species for 
those in common use. 
One circumstance which renders the pursuit of this 
branch of knowledge highly interesting to every 
enquirer^ is^ that whilst for the investigation of those 
branches of natural science which are connected wdth 
the mathematics^ much previous study is necessary ; 
it is not so as respects some of the branches of 
Natural History. These being only collections of 
highly curious and useful facts^ any one may under- 
stand them as readily as the professed student. Here 
then we claim for the division of knowledge which is 
intended to be cultivated by our Society a superiority 
over all others — that it not only affords scope for the 
penetrating genius of an Aristotle and a Bacon^ but 
may be favourably prosecuted by the humblest votary 
at the shrine of science. Many indeed are the great 
names that have been immortalized by their devotion 
