The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1842-07-09

AMONG the various studies of nature !
think that of botany, one of the most
pleasant and agreeable. The study of liza
lure, in any OF her forms is highly intcres-
ting and useful, bu: Ike heavenly bodies
are far distant from lis; and were they
within our reach, they are too mighty
for US to grasp; our feeble minds, seem
overwhelmed in the contemplation of Their
inmensty.
Alter considering the usefulness, and
beauty of trees. and other vegetables, we
would at first think it rather singular that
ve should know SO little of their physio-
logy. There is no doubt one cause is the
difficulty of the subject itself, and anoth-
er Is the disposition we have to localise
the principles of life; by considering one
part vital, and the other not. There are
great differences in plants, but in the &C
tive Parts they are vital al over; and al
nit of more division without the loss of
vitality, than even the most minute OF the
animal tribe, and of course We have more
command over them; We can turn their
energies more to our minds We can re-
gulaIa sAcir places and magnitude. The
sweet notes of birds, the sportings Of
quadrnpeds, and all the phenomena of
animated nature, have their attractions;
but just look for one moment at the or
chard, with its mantles of soft pink, and
virgin white; the woods that produce in
Vulnerable shades of colour. On behol-
ding the profusion Of flowers that adorn
the face Of nature; how pleasing the re-
lection to think that We can by examm-
ing them, be able to determine what class
and order they belong to.
If there are any who hold botany to be
.ritiing science, let them examine into
the grand principles which it developes,
unfolding to the view of man, the work
!ngs OF the Creators. wisdom in the vast
domain Of nature. Not that we would
presume to say that wisdom is yet fully
understood; the greatest boanists in the
midst Of his discoveries, must experience
feeling Of humiliation at his own igno-
rance Of nature. Facts that when disco
vcred seem so simple that we wonder a
child should not have discovered them,
have eluded the researcheo Of great men;and
at this moment Philosophers are grasping
for truth, which in due time will be incor-
porated into the elements of science to be
learned and understood by children. The
love of plants calls us to the fields, leads
us to the place where every one may
study, and then when we have wearied
ourselves with the scenes, we can turn to
the inhabitants.
When We have made ourselves masters
of all we can know respecting the trees,
their age, their history, their use; we are
still better prepared for knowing what are
the living things to which they give food
and shelter. There is not a plant that
does not afford its variety Of nutrition.
The Hover has lis industrious bee and
butterfly, the bud its canker worm, the
root its grub.
Botanical pursuits render us interested
III every vegetable production, even such
as we have before looked upon as useless
present attraction as objects of scientific
investigation and become associated with
the pleasing recollection arising from the
qualification of knowledge. The love of
native wild flowers, is no doubt greatly
heightened, by the habit of seeking them
out and observing them in their peculiar
situation. To those unacquanled with
botany, many wild flower is passed
over as an object not worthy of atten-
ton; which by botanist is observed
with different eye; the most snowy
flowers are not always the object of their
researches but they steal along some
lonely dale through the forest, or over
the ruggedrocks, to look FOR some new
] spac irnon MT ,ot d;.coyoroI We will