Delaware journal., 1827-10-30
JTo. 50

s;ss;nn; river. belonong to one Of the Crocodile
race. COMPUTED at 1s0 or l4o feet in length. Add
to this great numbers Of shells and flsll, OF impress
sions Of them imbedded i'll rocks and oher suos'an.
ces some appear. says the narrators 10 nave peen
forcbly and suddenly enveloped in the substances
which contain their IMPRESSIONS. and we still per-
ceiye the violent and convulslve cUntortluns. 'hto
which those animals had thrown themselves, TO
the terrible catastrophe Of which they are the onu'
ments.'' -
Tn nassng from the Mineral to the VEetTABbS
kingdom, we step over chasm which must. i"r ever
remain the two Kingdoms never can approximate. :.
between organic and inorganic bodies there IS no am"
nitv In entering on the study Of plants, we disco
YER new fund Of pleasing instructions wide
field for the exercise Of mind.a fountain OF 1ntele
lectual endowment But the vegetable world mas
other claims to our consideration thousand wants
and comforts are supplied from it; and ! the af.s.
and Manufactures, Agriculture and Medlclhe, are
alike largely indebted to Botanical knowleuse ,os
heirpresent advancement, and much OF their 1urte,
acquaintance with this interesting branch OF Natufai
History ..A
Too many, after encompassing the tecnnicai Pals
ofRotancal science rest satisfied with their attain"
ments, although they have only arrived at 'he tres+
old of the science. Allow me, therefore, 10 urge
the importance of extending your enquiries 10 inc
general structure, the physiology, the uses ne ms
| eases. and (f may be allowed the term) ths ~
siacts of plants and also to their peculiar and aq.
mirabe adaptation as well to the supply OF theie
own wants as of the wants Of the animal kingdomt
When IN the termination OF seeds, we nhlofny sea
the part that is to form the root, IN euery PosoD
the seed descend into the earth, whilst me piuhuiat
or future stem, with equal certainty rise upwards
some seeds furnished with wings, to transport 'ee"'
selves. others having thread by which theS are
attached in suitable situations to vegetate some
plants depositng carefully their own SEED ~ the
ground. others possessing the power OF scattering
theirs to distance when we observe pahis 'ids
require support putting iorth tendflls' al 'pe n,o
ment in which that support becomes necessary aia
even turning quite round ont OF their course, ~ ny
hold Of If growing in the water, snppheu
with spiral stalks, which extend and contract WITH
be r;sa and fall ot the stream to avoid being dfowns
oil otbers forming reservoirs of their leaves TO se-
cure supply of moisture in dry season,--closihg
their metals some in the day. others 10 the n'ght, or
hanging their heads 10 defend the embryo Pian ifoh
the heat, or the cold, one turning It's odck 70 lhe
storm 10 preserve ITSELF others buoyedup by oadders
of air and forming extensive fields OF vegela,on .
when we remark some plants furnished with long
Gnne, sh,ned flowers in order to reserve their hos
ney for certain tribes of birds or insects, when are
snnlied with tubes to extract it, WHATSOEVER plants
are armed with thorns and prckles tndeiena thems
selves from destruction. and all varying their Seas.
Die gafies corresponding to the different tastes anu
inclinatons of the numerous tribes OF ahlnateu
nature,-when we contemplate these circumstance
: and relations with an almost infinite NUMBER OK
: others equally striking, daily and hourly presentns
" themselves to the inquring mlnd they cannot iai'
:. with Droper use, to become source OF lhteiiec
tua Measure and of profitable instruction; "hish
tbev excite our admiration, and furnish demonstra'
Bile evidence of human contrlvance' OF oesSn' WIS
Il dom. and of goodness, proceeding from a I,
! Intelligence. who has thus de'gneu 70 na'ues
,t self to His family, even III the io"ei "oiNo
% ton .. r.
= If at any time. we wish to extend our powers os
Y nercenton. and take closer view OF the economy
1, Of nature, we may discover by the microscope,
- new creation In the seeds and bulbs OF plans' ing
~ future vegetable may be seen will It's mowers a''
es fruits in miniature; +;
ye THE pupy acorn, ere it swes, contains
a The oaks vast branches i'll its milky Vehss
= : Grain within grain, successive flsrSes,s aW:sis
'e And borndiess forests slumber IN sheliF
- sunerstiton. minsling with almost every subject
"a has not failed to find place even amongst me peau
- ties of the vegetable Kingdom. The ancient Druidf
of cropped the Miseto with golden axe the man
n drake it was formerly averred, screamed wfel pus
ne led up, and the person VINO gatnerea "aa
to scken and die hence, when wanted ior 'eo,cii,e
mr. was customary to tie dog to it. by the ta' anu
h. fins extract it from the earth by whipping Inc an
-. ;m.l which was supposed to suffer aiterWards.--
~ Hons If Is still believed by some, grow on Christ
r. mas night; and we are told by parwin' mat ~
a England, bits of the dried root VI epny'
n smooth and strung. al sold under the name ol aho
~ dyna necklaces. and tied round the necks OF chil
H. dren to facilitate the growth Of their teeth ST An
" tTony. of Padua, when the people would not heai
Is him. preached to the fish and converted them which
sr was Effected it is presumed, by secretly conveying
into the water. the Ccculous. or Indian berry, whicn
" has the property of Intoxicating fish. nhese, WIN
IN 1.-the tricks formerly played oft with ehe EnGhanters
m Nohtshade the modern duinuag roa, anu thou,
IL that mInht De Clleu. are all