PREFACE 
IX 
But in regard to the variety of plants, generally cultivated 
in ftoves, &c. I may properly add, that, independantly of 
profit, every denomination of Forcing-houfes is capable of 
affording to a fpeculative mind, a fource of rational pleafure 
and real fatisfadion. 
An attention to the progrefs of vegetable life adminifters 
to the mind fomething more folid than mere amufement. — ■ 
The budding, leafing, and flowering of plants, together with 
the progrefs of the various fruits from their firft infantile 
appearance, to ,the final period of their perfedion, all unfold 
a fcene of admiration and amazement, of gratitude and thank- 
fulnefs.^ 
b The 
* “ There is a particular pleafure to fee things in their origin, and by what 
“ degrees and fucceffive changes they rife into that order and ftate we fee 
“ them in afterwards, when eompleated. I am fure, if ever we would view 
“ the paths of Divine VVifdom, in the works and in the condu£l of nature, 
“ we muft not only confider how things are, but how they came to be fo. 
“ It is pleafant to look upon a tree in the fummer, covered with its green 
“ leaves, decked with bloffbms, or laden with fruit, and cafting a pleafing 
“ fhade under its fpreading boughs ; but to confider how this tree, with all 
“ its furniture, fprang from a little feed, how nature fhaped it, and fed it 
“ in its infancy and grov^th ; added new parts, and ftill advanced it by 
“ little and little, till it came to this greatnefs and perfedfion. This, me- 
“ thinks, is another fort of pleafure, more rational, lefs common, and which 
“ is properly the contemplation of Divine Wifdom in the works of nature.” 
Dr, Burnet’s Theory of the Earthy vol. i. book i. chap, v. 
