211 
HISTORY OF BOTANY. 
plants, although very important, as furnishing from their leaveq 
food for cattle, are yet more especially useful for their seeds, 
which furnish food for man. Some plants furnish oils, which are 
of important uses in various ways. The fixed oils are extracted 
from plants called oleaginous; they may be considered undei 
three heads ; 1st, olive-oil^ produced from the olive in warm coun- 
tries ; 2d, nut-oil^ of temperate climates, as obtained from wal- 
nuts, &c. ; 3d, linseedroil^ obtained from the seed of oleaginous 
or oily plants. Many of the labiate plants, as thyme, sage, &c., 
are used in cookery. The Cruciform family aiford the cabbage, 
cauliflower, turnips, &c. ; the Leguminous family, beans, peas, 
&c. The Cucurbitacese furnish us with melons, squashes, and 
cucumbers ; umbelliferous plants, with the aromatics, as cara- 
way, coriander, &c., which are useful in medicine and confec- 
tionery. The plants chiefly used in domestic economy differ in 
different climates and countries ; some, as many kinds of grain 
and grasses, are in common use in all countries ; while others, 
as the bread-fruit and plantain, are only used in the few coun« 
tries which produce them. The bread-corn of the temperate 
climates is chiefly wheat, rice, and maze ; rice is a substitute 
for these in warm countries, and barley in cold countries. The 
esculent roots of the old world are chiefly the yam, carrot, and 
turnip ; of the new, the potato. The pot-herbs^ such as the cab- 
bage, sea-kale, and others of the cruciform family, are mostly 
used in temperate climates. 
LECTTJKE XLl. 
HISTORY OF BOTANY, FROM THE CREATION OF THE WORLD TO THE 
DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. 
327. We now propose to give a brief sketch of the progress 
of botanical knowledge ; and 13 this is closely connected with 
other branches of natural science, a history of the advancement 
of the one will necessarily be in some degree a record of the 
march of the others. ISTatural Philosophy, Chemistry, and 
Botany, were all nursed in the same cradle, and thus grew and 
gained strength side by side ; though Botany (at first rude and 
imperfect) may be considered the elder sister. 
328. After becoming familiar with a science, the mind natu 
Oleaginous plants— Labiate and Cruciform plants— Melons— Umbelliferoua plants— Bread-corn-Pot- 
nerbs— Legumes.— 337. Histoiy of botanical science.— 328. Why do we wish to learn tlie progress o( 
Mieace 1 
