rendered its people too indolent to profit by their advantages, or to make much progress in social happiness or national weal:h.

England, on the contrary, is limited in its extent, when compared with the Mexican provinces. But possessing the best association of natural resources, and being favored with a climate which is peculiarly adapted to the development of the physical and moral energies of man, its prosperity stands unrivalled among the nations of the earth. Her agricultural resources, though at one time exhausted, have been improved by the application of the principles of modern chemistry. Her manufactures borrow the elements of their fabrics not only from her own bosom, but from the broad surface of the globe-her commerce whitens every ocean, and her navy stands as graceful memorials of the extent and grandeur of her power. What England has attained by the best application and disposition of her natural resources, might be attained by Missouri through the operation of similar causes, for the same elements of power and advancement exist in the one which exist in the other, and nothing but a gross misapplication of principles, or an abuse of our resources, can prevent us, as a people, from making rapid strides in national prosperity.

Owing to a temporary absence from home, it will not be in my power to furnish you with any other communications until my return. The first of the series will embrace an exposition of the general classification of the rocks, according to the more modern divisions of geology, this being necessary to an understanding of the discussions which follow. The economical geology of the State will then form the subject of consideration, and the adaptation of the resources of the State to the various purposes of life, will close all we wish to embrace in these numbers.

Yours, respectfully,

H. A. PROUT,

ARTICLE III.

THE ECONOMY AND HABITS OF PLANTS.

The effects of climate on the habits of Plants, Indian Corn, Cotton, Irish Potatoe, Potatoe-Rot.—Mean annual temperature, Meteorology, Dew, Winds, Fruits, Grapes.-Effects of light, and the influence of the Moon upon the growth of plants.

The vegetable kingdom is the medium through which the properties of inorganic matter are elaborated, and made suitable to the purposes of food; and it is through this medium alone, that the animal kingdom derives the means of its subsistence.

This arrangement in the economy of nature, is so immediately connected with, not only the existence, but the moral condition of man, that every fact relating to the economy of plants, is worthy of attentive observ

ation.

To the individual of learning, or taste, the vegetable kingdom affords a boundless source of pleasure, as well as instruction; and is eminently calculated to direct the mind to the contemplation of the wisdom and benevolence of the Creator.

To the practical agriculturist, a thorough knowledge of the economy and habits of plants, as also the causes which influence their growth and developement, is highly necessary, for without this knowledge, he is not only liable to misapply his labor, but must remain in ignorance of those moral pleasures which were designed to be associated with his employment.

Our design in the present essay, is simply to notice the economy and habits of the vegetable kingdom, and the effects produced upon plants by change of climate, without reference to their cultivation.

The geographical location of plants, is determined by the degrees of temperature, rather than latitude; but owing to a diversity of altitude, as well as a diversity in the mineral constituents of the soil, it rarely happens that any one plant takes possession of a large district of

country, to the entire exclusion of others. Hence, several families as well as varieties are frequently found growing within a limited district, and sometimes mingle in close proximity to each other. Some, however, are so select in regard to temperature, soil and moisture, that they confine themselves within very narrow limits, and cannot be produced beyond, without arrangements highly artificial; while others more hardy and enterprising, ramble far from that, which would seem to be their original place of location. In their migrations, they conform to the changes of climate, soil, and other circumstances connected with their new location; and while undergoing the modifications incident to these changes, they are transformed into distinct varieties. Hence, the more extensive the range in which a plant is found, the greater is the number of varieties into which it is divided; these varieties, however, rarely depart so far from the family resemblance but that they are readily recognized as descendants from the same stock.

The cerial tribe in some one or more of its forms, is found on every part of the habitable globe, where there is sufficient fertility of soil to sustain vegetable life; and is divided into a greater number of varieties than any other tribe of the vegetable kingdom. From this is derived perhaps nine-tenths of the food of both man and beast, in most civilized countries; but it is a fact worthy of observation that none of those varieties which are cultivated for bread, have been found growing wild, in any of the countries which have been discoved in modern times. This is the more remarkable, when we reflect that within the last four centuries, new countries have been discovered in every climate that can be inhabited by man.

Many trees are found bearing fruit in their wild and uncultivated condition; and man may eat of the herb of the field, but in the sweat of his face only, may he eat bread; for without culture, none of the grain-bearing varieties of the cerial tribe will bring forth fruit. But to compensate for this necessity of cultivation, nature has adapted some one or more of these grain bearing plants, to every climate that can be inhabited by civilized man.

ARTICLE III.

THE ECONOMY AND HABITS OF PLANTS.

The effects of climate on the habits of Plants, Indian Corn, Cotton, Irish Potatoe, Potatoe-Rot.—Mean annual temperature, Meteorology, Dew, Winds, Fruits, Grapes.-Effects of light, and the influence of the Moon upon the growth of plants.

The vegetable kingdom is the medium through which the properties of inorganic matter are elaborated, and made suitable to the purposes of food; and it is through this medium alone, that the animal kingdom derives the means of its subsistence.

This arrangement in the economy of nature, is so immediately connected with, not only the existence, but the moral condition of man, that every fact relating to the economy of plants, is worthy of attentive observ

ation.

To the individual of learning, or taste, the vegetable kingdom affords a boundless source of pleasure, as well as instruction; and is eminently calculated to direct the mind to the contemplation of the wisdom and benevolence of the Creator.

To the practical agriculturist, a thorough knowledge of the economy and habits of plants, as also the causes which influence their growth and developement, is highly necessary, for without this knowledge, he is not only liable to misapply his labor, but must remain in ignorance of those moral pleasures which were designed to be associated with his employment.

Our design in the present essay, is simply to notice the economy and habits of the vegetable kingdom, and the effects produced upon plants by change of climate, without reference to their cultivation.

The geographical location of plants, is determined by the degrees of temperature, rather than latitude; but owing to a diversity of altitude, as well as a diversity in the mineral constituents of the soil, it rarely happens that any one plant takes possession of a large district of

country, to the entire exclusion of others. Hence, several families as well as varieties are frequently found growing within a limited district, and sometimes mingle in close proximity to each other. Some, however, are so select in regard to temperature, soil and moisture, that they confine themselves within very narrow limits, and cannot be produced beyond, without arrangements highly artificial; while others more hardy and enterprising, ramble far from that, which would seem to be their original place of location. In their migrations, they conform to the changes of climate, soil, and other circumstances connected with their new location; and while undergoing the modifications incident to these changes, they are transformed into distinct varieties. Hence, the more extensive the range in which a plant is found, the greater is the number of varieties into which it is divided; these varieties, however, rarely depart so far from the family resemblance but that they are readily recognized as descendants from the same stock.

The cerial tribe in some one or more of its forms, is found on every part of the habitable globe, where there is sufficient fertility of soil to sustain vegetable life; and is divided into a greater number of varieties than any other tribe of the vegetable kingdom. From this is derived perhaps nine-tenths of the food of both man and beast, in most civilized countries; but it is a fact worthy of observation that none of those varieties which are cultivated for bread, have been found growing wild, in any of the countries which have been discoved in modern times. This is the more remarkable, when we reflect that within the last four centuries, new countries have been discovered in every climate that can be inhabited by man.

Many trees are found bearing fruit in their wild and uncultivated condition; and man may eat of the herb of the field, but in the sweat of his face only, may he eat bread; for without culture, none of the grain-bearing varieties of the cerial tribe will bring forth fruit. But to compensate for this necessity of cultivation, nature has adapted some one or more of these grain bearing plants, to every climate that can be inhabited by civilized man.