The Delaware register, or, Farmers', manufacturers' & mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1829, 1829-05-02


onone of the greatest American ornaments of Botanical
science. The of the general founded on
some specific popularity of the pana circumstance which
renders them easily acquired and remembered Thus does
not require classical education to perceive that mforus
means many dowered, qunquef om rifolium, three five
eaved procuben procumbent, &c Even in the uncouth
of of the the Botanical yro will sometimes
find additional of 1t is difficult for the
utored disciple to preserve solemn gravity when he hears
such babarous sounds Veronica bccabunga, Pogonia
ophioglOssoideS, Corallorza odOntOrhza ahsropogon
apdoides On the other hand however, many names
are beautifully poetcal.
1t is too much the practice to the study of
ny by of reading the subject and the tosome
task of committing memory the technical terms and dein
tons, without reference TO the plants themselves This bur-
thens and fatgue the mind and often leaves distase for
the science, disgust The enjoyment of Botany
should be made begin with the study of it: and then the
pleasure experienced while acquiring knowledge would
be equal TO that derived from conscious possession oft Let
the become marzed with the most important parts
of plant by the requirement and application of the most
important definitions ony and next acquant himself with the
distinguishing marks of the twenty-five classes and their
ders. For this purpose, an introduction to Botany by
N,tta any other modern elementary treatise will answer
Let him then select for examination flower that belongs to
of those classes which comprise the ewes general thus
avoiding the very extensive 9Th Glass; the compound flowers
grasses, &c., perplexng to beginner Having deermin
ed the class and ORDER the next step to refer to the written
descriptions the genera included therein, examining each
description succession, until the found which applies
10 the plant in question Barton's &c Flora Phiadelphca
or Darngton's Forua Cestrca, either of which contains
most of the vegetables in this REGION will here be put in re-
QUESTION The species is be determined in The same
ay provided than species exist and the OF
the plant obtained Thus supposng have flower for in
yestigaton which find has ten stamens It, of COURSE be-
longs the tenth class Ten poinals next couned-I
which determines its place in the fifth order of that class BY
referring the book for the plants of this class and order
find only genus belonging it, which PhytOacca, and
only species of this genus, decadra am certain
that plant under examination the Phyoacca decandra
or Common Poke in order become familiar with the
terms of descriptions take each term separately and find how
accords with my specimen
1t not pretended that the of scientific knowledge
thus attained The chief object to excite interest in
and to fix the attention upon the science, by such as
are best adapted the end The taste being establish
ed would without anxiety, leave the fascinated disciple of
Flora to his own Judgment and exertions.
now conclude this hasy and imperfect sketch the design of
which would gladly have been committed to one better quail
flied by experience and observation Nothing but an ardent
desire that others should participate with in the delights of
avorte pursuit could have induced appear before you
in this manner And if humble endeavors should happily
be the means of leading single procye into the stu
dy of this beautiful department of naure will have my re-
ward