194 
VERNAL FLOWERS. 
that of some prominent individual ; the mind presented with 
general ideas only, has no means of forming images ; it is 
in natural as in civil history, — general remarlis upon the 
beauty and utility of the vegetable world, or the carious struc- 
ture of plants, may make but slight impressions. But by con- 
templating the peculiarities of some one tribe, genus, or spe- 
cies, the mind seizes upon something definite; and reason, 
imagination, and feeling are easily awakened ; thus the impres- 
sion made is permanent. Of this tendency of the mind we 
should avail ourselves, by connecting parUcular impressions 
with facts which lead to general principles. Narrow indeed 
would be our mental vision, were it confined to single uncon- 
nected observations, laid up indiscriminately in the storehouse 
of thought ; but our minds, not by our own will, but by a faculty 
received directly from our Creator, instinctively generalize and 
arrange their mass of single observations ; and with scarcely an 
efibrt we perform that operation in the world of thought within 
us which the great Linnaeus efiected in thr^ vegetable kingdom. 
PART IV. 
LECTUKE XXXYIII. 
THE FLOWERING SEASON OF PLANTS 
Vernal and Hummer Flowers. 
294. Hitherto we have been clearing our way through difficulties, and over- 
coming obstacles : first, we learned to analyze plants according to the rules of bo- 
tanical science ; next, to examine the organs of plants anatomically and physio>ogi- 
cally ; we then investigated the principles of classification as exhibited both in the 
natural and artificial systems. The language of Botany is now famihar to thr 
diligent student who can enjoy the pleasant reflection that by his own industry 
and application he has elevated his mind to that state hi which it may, with littk 
further efi'ort, enjoy the pleasant views of the vegetable kingdom which now pre- 
sent themselves. Thus the traveler having toiled to gain some acclivity looks 
complacently around, enjoying the beautiful view before him in proportion co the 
efforts made to attain it. 
295. We will now suppose the dreary season of winter yielding to the gentle 
influences of spring, and organized nature awakening to new life and beauty ; — for 
Ruimals, no less than plants, seem vivified and quickened by the returning warmth 
ot tliis delightful season. How many wandering through life, "with brute^ uncon- 
scious gaze," have never made the inquiry, " H''/m«: causes Spring?" With the 
greater part of mankind the ordinary phenomena of nature excite no interest ; it is 
only when something unexpected occurs, that they think either of first or second 
294. Wliai we have (lore.— 295. What causes spring 1 
