SUGAR CANE OF CENTRAL INDIA. 
41 
mineral, both in form and substance. In 
their form we see nothin'? like the mathema- 
tical precision of crystallization ; and in 
their substance they difcr vv^idely, according 
to the part of the vegetable which is exa- 
mined ; so that, independently of previous 
knowledge of the species, w^e conhl liardly 
discover any natural relation between tlm 
several constituent parts of the individual. 
What is there in the insulated leaf of a rose 
or of a peach tree, that would lead us to ex- 
pect the fruit of the one or the flower of the 
other ? But the most remarkable line of 
distinction between vegetables and the indi- 
viduals of the preceding kingdom consists in 
their mode of increase and reproduction. 
Minerals can only increase, as such, by ap- 
position of particles Sj)ecifically similar to 
themselves ; and can only be originally 
produced by tlie immediate combination of 
their constituent elements. But vegetables 
have an apparatus within them, by means of 
W’hich they can assimilate the heterogene- 
ous particles of the surrounding soil to their 
own nature ; and they have also the power 
of producing individuals specifically the 
same as themselves : in common language, 
they are cai)able of contributing to their 
own growth, and to tlie continuation of 
their species. And as ihey produce these 
effects by means of internal organs adapted 
to the purpose, they are hence denominated 
organized bodies. 
The individuals of the animal Jdngdom 
very closely resemble those of the vegetable 
in the two properties just described. The 
respective organs differ, as we might ex- 
pect, in their form and position : but in 
their functions or mode of action, there is a 
strong analogy, and even similarity, througli- 
out. But animals difl’er from vegetables 
more remarkably than these do from every 
unorganized form of matter, in being en- 
dued with sensation and volition ; proper- 
ties which extend the. sphere of their rela- 
tions to such a degree, as to raise them im- 
measurably above all other forms of matter 
in the scale of existence. 
In distributing the individuals of tlis 
material world among these four kingdoms 
,of nature, there occasionally prevails consi- 
deixible obscurity, not only with respect to 
the true place v^^hich an individual ought to 
occupy ill the scale of a particular kingdom ; 
but even with resjiect to the question, under 
which of the four kingdoms it ought to be 
arranged ; tliis obscurity arising of course 
from the points of resemblance apparently 
balancing, or more than balancing, the 
points of difference. Let us, for instance, 
in the atmospherical kingdom, take a frag- 
ment of a perfectly transparent crystal of 
pure ice ; and, under ordinary circum- 
stances, it would be difficult, either by the 
sight or the touch, to distinguish it from a 
fragment of transparent quartz, or rode 
crystal : indeed tlie transfer of the original 
term krustallos from the one to the other, 
shows the doss resemblance of the two. 
Some minerals again so nearly resemble 
vegetables in form, as to have given rise to 
specific terms of appellation, derived from 
the vegetable kingdom ; as flos ferri, 
mineral agaric, &c. And, lastly, many of 
the animals called sea-anemones so far re- 
semble the flower called by the same name, 
that their real diaracter is at first very 
doubtful to those who are unacquainted 
with the animals of that genus. But, omit- 
ting these rare and equivocal instances, and 
avoiding the confinement of abstract defini- 
tions, we may safely affirm that, of all tho 
kingdoms of nature, the individuals of the 
animal kingdom have the most extensive 
and important relations to the surrounding 
universe. And I need not here insist on 
the obvious inference, that if among the 
kingdoms of nature animals hold the first 
rank, in consequence of the importance of 
these relations, among animals themselves 
the first rank must be assigned to man.— 
Kidd, 
THE 
SPIRIT OF THE INDIAN PRESS, 
OR 
MONTHLY REGISTER OF USEFUL INVENTIONS, 
AND 
IMPROVEMENTS, DISCOVERIES, 
AND NEW FACTS IN EVERY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE. 
PLANTING and MODE OF REMOVING 
SUGAR CANE FIIOM ONE SPOT OF I\DIA 
TO ANOi MEl’v. 
It appears tliat Captain Sleeman has a sugarpinn- 
lailoit at Jubbulpore in Central India ; and, with 
a zeal, liberality, and spirit, Iiiglily creditable to 
liim, liasotTeied to supply the plant giaiis to all 
applicants.* the follnwiiiii is liis desciiptiiui of 
* Applicaiinii to be made to Captain RejDoldft, 
or^ Lieut, C. Brown, Jubbuipore. 
