The principles of descriptive and physiological botany / [J.S. Henslow].

  • John Stevens Henslow
Date:
1844
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The principles of descriptive and physiological botany / [J.S. Henslow]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    17/354 page 5
    about maintaining the priority of their claim to this or that particular observation or discovery. We do not go so far as some persons, who seem inclined to believe that these pursuits are of themselves capable of produ. cing a decided improvement in our moral sensibilities ; but we hail that joy which is felt in the pursuit of such occupations, as a sacred gift, which may be compared to the rain from heaven, sent for the benefit of all: for increasing the temporal welfare both of the just, and of the unjust: for procuring blessings equally to the good and to the evil; but which the former only know how thoroughly to appreciate, and to apply to the highest and best advantage. Botany has its peculiar interest, from embracing the study of natural bodies which form the connecting link between the animal and mineral kingdoms. If plants ceased to grow, animals would cease to exist. No animal derives its food immediately from unorganised matter ; and though there are many which prey upon other animals, yet the victims have always been them- selves nourished by some plant. Nothing can exceed the wonderful manner in which provision is made for the constant supply of those myriads of animated beings which people the earth, ocean, and atmosphere. Most of them are not content with every chance vege- table that may be growing in their path ; and many are to be fed, and can only be fed, upon some one or two kinds of vegetable, and would inevitably starve upon every other besides! When, then, we seek to investi« gate the laws by which the distribution and the very existence of animals is regulated, it is of consequence that we should not overlook even the minutest moss or fungus that we can detect. It is by such plants that the first step must often be made towards rendering the barren and desolate rock a fertile and productive soil, and converting a spot apparently destined to eternal si- lence into a scene of lively bustle and delight. (5.) Unorganised Bodies. —The most prominent dis. tinction that subsists between the various natural bodies B 3
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3