ELEMENTS OF AGRICULTURE. 
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LESSON II. 
THE DIFFERENT OBJECTS EXISTING IN NATURE. 
8. The art of agriculture requires some knowledge of 
the different objects that exist upon the surface, and in tne 
interior of the earth. It presupposes, consequently, some 
acquaintance with natural history, and principally with 
botany, a science that treats of plants and their properties. 
9. All bodies that exist upon the surface, or in the inte¬ 
rior of the earth, are divided into three classes, called the 
kingdoms of nature, namely: 1. The animal kingdom, 
which includes man and all animals. 2. The vegetable 
kingdom, in which are included all vegetables, from the 
largest tree to the smallest plant, 3. The mineral king¬ 
dom, to which belong all rocks, stones, earths, and metals. 
10. Among the beings that exist, some are endowed 
with life, such as men, animals, vegetables, or plants; the 
others are inanimate, or without life, as minerals, rocks, 
earths, etc. The first are called organic bodies; the 
second, inorganic bodies . 
11. The organs are those parts of a body created for the 
maintenance of life. 
12. It is easy to establish the distinction that exists be¬ 
tween the beings of the three kingdoms. Those that be¬ 
long to the animal kingdom grow, live, feel, and are gifted 
with the faculty of moving themselves, or locomotion. 
Those of the vegetable kingdom grow, and live ; a proof 
of this Tast property is the faculty that they possess of 
nourishing and reproducing themselves. Those of the 
mineral kingdom grow only, and this growth takes place 
in a manner contrary to that of organized bodies. These 
last increase always from the interior to the exterior, 
whereas minerals increase by the addition to their surface 
of mall particles that adhere to them. 
