PANSIES AS FLOWER-GARDEN PLANTS. 
157 
17. Woody Fibre , the base of all trees and shrubs; Brande supposed it to be 
derived from the decomposition of carbonic acid by the energy of the vital principle. 
Analysis resolves it into about 52 carbon, 42 oxygen, and 6 hydrogen, fractions 
omitted. Distilled in close vessels it yields a weak or watery acetic acid, and 
'charcoal remains in the retorts. 
18. The true vegetable Acids which are found to exist in the juices or organs of 
plants, are the oxalic, citric, tartaric, benzoic, acetic, meconic, malic, gallic, and 
prussic acid. The oxalic appears to yield no hydrogen ; from all the others 
hydrogen is liberated, either alone, or combined with oxygen in the state of water. 
We have thus presented a cursory glance of the wonderful products of vegetable 
organisation ; from which it will appear that however multifarious the forms, the 
elements of so many infinitely varied modifications are very few. 
I The beauties of floral nature cause delight ; the comforts derivable from the 
stores of the vegetable and fruit garden, are recognised by every one ; but it de- 
mands the eye and refined feeling of the pious philosopher to discover and appreciate 
the numberless combinations of attractive energy, which are required to produce 
those wonderful substances that are treasured up in the vegetable kingdom for the 
1 support — the very life — of man, and the animal creature. When we come to 
investigate the functions of the organism in reference to these products, our admi- 
ration will be still more exalted. 
PANSIES AS FLOWER-GARDEN PLANTS. 
The fashion of filling the beds of a flower-garden with plants of only one kind, 
and such as produce flowers of the same colour, is now so completely a part of the 
modern routine that it is universally adopted. We are not now, therefore, to 
discuss its merits or advantages, since there must of necessity be a general admis- 
sion of these, or there would not be such a uniformity of practice. 
If we were, indeed, to say anything of the plan in the abstract, we might 
perhaps have to regret that it is sometimes too rigidly pursued, especially in larger 
groups, where a greater variety of colour would decidedly improve the effect. 
One thing, however, is certain, and this is, that where the beds are sufficiently 
small, and a spreading, dwarf, and showy kind of plant is used, the most brilliant 
and ornamental results are obtained by this system. 
But, as nearly all improvements on old practices involve difficulties in the 
execution, it is found with this that, while, for late summer and autumnal purposes, 
a profusion of gay plants may be easily had for filling the beds, it requires extreme 
familiarity with the habits of hardy herbaceous plants, and attentive preparation, 
and successive replacement, to keep the flower-garden at ail attractive in the spring 
and earlier summer months. 
