Useful plants : plants adapted for the food of man described and illustrated.

Date:
1870
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Useful plants : plants adapted for the food of man described and illustrated. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    summit, those of the frozen north ; and these same northern plants we also find on the crests of the African mountains. On the southern slopes of the lofty range which separates the ancient empire of the Moguls from the king- dom of Cashmere, we find many of the vege- table species of India; on the northern flank, many of those of Europe. It is also from the extremes of climate that we draw our drugs, perfumes, and poisons, and all those plants whose properties are in excess. Temperate climates, on the contrary, produce only temperate things; the mildest of herbs, the wholesomest of vege- tables, and the most refreshing of plants and fruits are, like the gentlest of animals, and the most intellectual races of men, the product ot the most moderate climates. How many species of plants does the reader suppose are distributed over the terrestrial surface ? No less than 120,000 have been recognized, named, and described ; but there is good reason to believe that thrice this amazing number have yet to be collected and distinguished by our botanists.