The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-04-21


various parts, their place Of growth,
their classification, and the terms which
are employed in their description and
denomination. 1t is very useful study,
inasmuch as it informs us how to dis
tinguish those plants which are calculat-
ed to sustain life and promote the health
and happiness of man, from those which
are poisonous and deleterious to him,
thus enabling him to live more pleas
antly and proftably than he could with
out this science.
1t was with this view that Botany was
chiefly pursued by the ancients. But
in the early ages it shared largely in the
literary and scientific dearth which be-
dimmed knowledge, consequently but
little attention was paid to it, save to
discover the medicinal properties of a
few useful plants, in which work the
Indians of America, at the time of its
discovery, doubtless surpassed even the
learned Romans and scientific Greeks.
Beyond this, little appears to have been
known respecting plants, and the minds
and faculties of men were so active upon
other natural sciences that whenever
|
they approached this, they appeared
suddenly to become dormant and un-
observant. But about the fifteenth CEN
tury, science in general received a sud-
den impulse, and Botany shared largely
in the renovating influence. Men of
genius and industry turned their atten-
tiqn toward it, and it then received an
impetus which it still retains, and which
it is hoped, it may long hold.
! Pre-eminent among them stands the
. name of Linnaus, name as celebrated
, in this science, as that of Herschel in
Astronomy, Newton in Philosophy, OF
Humboldt in Geology, and which will
pass down the vista of time among the
names of the greatest lenefactors Of
man. Germany, England, and other
European countries have taken the lead
in this science, but it is to be hoped,
that our country will, in this as in all
other sciences, soon claim her equality
The advantages to be derived from
it, are such as iefecting mind will not
fail to conceive - affecting as it does
mans moral and mental nature. In
t deed there are but few studies which
, call into action his intellectual abilities
, as much as this delightful science. II
continually tasks his memory and his
perceptive faculties, so that a person
acquires by its study, not only great
l discipline of mind, but quick exercise
of memory, qualities which render i'm.
t portant service in the pursuit of science
or business.
7 But we must not confne ourselve.
solely to the consideration of its effect
on the mental and physical qualities
f We must contemplate it in its relations
to the moral influence which it exerts.
r 1t is said that all things were created
S for some good purpose, yet in travelin!
e through all parts of the world, We fnt
f many plants which appear to us to per
J form no active part in the general econ
: omy of nature. Such are the rose, th
J. pink, and many other beautiful plants
n Still they have their use in common
G with all created things, to add to ou
n pleasure and happiness by their bcauti
full and attractive forms, colors an
Il grateful odors which they watt to ou
,. senses. How pleasant it is to. behol
f these flowers But it is still NOR
if pleasing to posses knowledge of them
Y. that is, of their analysis and classified
ton, and of the fact that they are form
:, representative Of heavenly graces an,
h affections.
IS Finally, this study has tendency t
lie lead the mind to penetrate deeper int
Id the works of the Creator and think NOR
a on heavenly Objects, for in contempla,
ing the Supreme Being, whom this stud
teaches us to love and reverence, "
N are taught to become more and NOR