The New York herald., 1844-12-05

DE-. Gardner's Lecture Last Evening" Sr
One of the most interesting lectures of the
season was that delivered last evening by the
above eminent professor, in the Chemical Lecture
Room of the University. A very crowded class
embracing pupils Of different ages, varying from
blooming nineteen, through the "sear and yellow
leat," down to the ''slippered panlaloon' were in
attendance, and seemed quite fascinated with the
opening address of DR.. GARDNER He commenced
on the subject of
PLANTS.
SO fertile in novelties is a plant, that every
branch OF lnductlve science is interested in in
vestlgaung It's symmetry, its functions, and its
forces The Botanist limits The range Of his OBJ
ture and similarity Of habits Taking model from the
highest organizations or the simplest FORMS he indus
gaHs, one with another. He traces simple cell Of
membrane, expanding in compexity from point to point
through 80 600 grada'ions until reachhe symmetrical
beauty OF the In the interior he discerns new
tubes and organs with the complexty of nsl FORM
and associates elevated and elaborate results with in
mldew that gives air Of antiquity to the wall his inn
agnaton is excited and his energy exerted in unrave
ling the inextrible delicacies Of the leaflets CT flower
His employment Is gratifying and intellsctual-t
has done good but this is not the way in
which the agricultural should consider plants
The chemist brings the of analy sis to nves
gae the difference between the ascending sap and the
gummy fluid which descends the stem He discrimnaes
between the coloring matters the oils the starch and
fbrine He submits to critical the gases Of the
Interior the contents of ceules and the perfume OF ow
The mineral constituents and the food OF plants are
interesting topics of inquiry Whether the air feeds them
the soi And after they have passed through their
existence. what chsnges fall upon their remains To
him. the green moss is noble the oaknay, nobler
for he discovers that simple tissue s endowed with
functions as important properties reconde the most
farmer must conne his studies this department The
natural philosopher examines the force with which sap
ascends to the summit of the talest pnes He
ts intensity and studies the which produce it,
sociaes capillary force and electrical any with vege
taor Investigates the pereoation oil fluids into cellues
and the origin OF movements in the latex The sunbeam
is to him magazine Of power;he discrimnates with
nicely between the which produces the green color
which purples the autumnal fruit, or touches with
slight blush the eary peach-and that which, ding
an amorous solc ation bends the young flower stem
rial forces the imbcdiment OF imponderable actions
The ceaseless wavelets of the sunbeam unet by
Cur gross senses bring out by their rppes in the air
living plant in figure fragrant end exquisite
n color You will admire such studies-they present
truths immutable and fixed which take the Imagination
est creations Of fancy pale away before the light truths
such as these. Tha calm air, awakening sublime emo
eternal pulsaons Of light eud heat disturb each atom Of
its structure and strike with organizing force upon its
gases There too the disembodied forms Of past exist
ences gather to take on new shapes beneath the moulding
power of the SUMS rays. TO the farmer this stu
dy should be the recreation Of his winters even
From all these he gathers truths; to s these
laborers in science he s debtor but for his art for
hi. peculiar they are not enough
but the soil agricuturally. He must cherish new
science instead Of merely gathering hints ior other de-
partments the science Of agriculture which in extent is
superior TO most others in utility ALL 1t will avail him
little to know that all plants produce seeds with lobe
with two lobes, with none at all That the blue ray
bends the ste-the yellow greens the eai-the red pro-
duoes aumeral nts That sap rises with force equva
lent to Of As inches of the barometer grape
sugar differs from starch by two atoms of water-f he
confines his knowledge here Our enquiries are often re-
moved from those OF the sister sciences We would kaow
how to develope and increased luxuriancs the
useful vegetables which drawing food from the soil
haust its fertility the most which the least By what
the nutritious principles developed and how plants
compare with each other sustenance for and ami
mals In what way we may increase the quantity Of
matter in the soil serving plants as food On these
subjects other sciences silent, and it remains
for ourselves to search and discover the solutions
lshall therefore, present yon with the agricultural dvi
sion Of the vegetable kingdom. There four great
classes. lst Natural plants raised the farm. ID.
Plants which have been changed by cultivation
Sd. Weeds. 4th Parasitic vegetabes-smut, rust You
may consider this arbitrary DIVISION but it is the
suit OF much study and ramies in its consequences
through every operation of the farm.
The learned Professor alter dating at length the
rious families" of weeds plants and vegetables in the
vegetable kingdom" concluded most interesting lee
ture which gave much satisfaction. The lectures will
be repeated twice q week.