( i77 ) 
LECTURE IV, 
On the MoJfeSy Flags, and Fungufes. Mufci, Alg<e s 
and Fungi. 
It is difficult to decide whether the palm 
of beauty lhould be given to the tribe of the 
ferns or the moflfes ; but from the extenfive 
utility of the latter in the vegetable kingdom 
they lay a fuperior claim to our refpect and 
attention. The beauty of their leaves is too 
obvious to require any explanation ; but many 
perfons are fo infenfible to their ufe, as to fup- 
pofe that they impoverifh the ground on which 
they grow. This is by no means the cafe; they 
thrive belt in barren places, and love cold and 
moifture, and hence cover thofe lands with ver- 
dure which would otherwife remain bare : fo 
far from injuring the plants, which are found 
intermingled with them, they afford them 
protection ; their own roots penetrating to fo 
fmall a depth into the ground, that they take 
from it little nourifhment ; wherever a fmall 
quantity of grafs is found with moffes, there 
N would 
