the atmosphere contains the elements of vegetable matter, and
plants derive their support from the air as well as from the earth.
Experiment has proved that a plant will grow and flourish without
any food except that obtained from water and the atmosphere.
The reason for giving up * exhausted fields to the growth of any
vegetables for a few years, is philosophical and conclusive.
Without the great fact of vegetables enriching the earth, the
reason could not exist.
4. Many important properties and applications of these plants
may yet be discovered and made, so that they may be seen to he
more directly useful. Great discoveries have been made in this
respect within the last fifty years. It cannot be doubted that the
progress of discovery is only just commenced. The beautiful
colors for painting, called lakes, are many of them obtained from
vegetables, and many more may yet be procured. Combinations,
too, of vegetable matter may develope important powers. Without
this, indeed, important uses have already been seen.
5. The beauty and variety of vegetable life are in themselves a
useful end. In this way are displayed the wisdom, power, and
contrivance of the Creator ; the illimitable means at his control;
the effecting of the same ends by objects so diverse ; the adaptation
of means to ends ; the constant supervision of his agency;
the ceaseless variety amidst surprising uniformity.
These are reasons amply adequate to produce an interest in
respect to all parts of vegetables. The purification of the atmosphere
alone, and preserving in it the due proportion of oxygen
in e state to support life, invests the world of vegetables with
new attractions.
THE
HERBACEOUS FLOWERING PLANTS
OF
MASSACHUSETTS,
ARRANGED ACCORDING TO THE NATURAL ORDERS OE LINDLEY.
AND
ILLUSTRATED CHIEFLY BY POPULAR DESCRIPTIONS
OF TH E IR
C H A R A C T E R , P R O P E R T IE S , AND U S E S .