930. BOTANY, Value of.—
Botany I rank with the most valuable sciences, whether
we consider its subjects as furnishing the
principal subsistence of life to man and beast,
delicious varieties for our tables, refreshments
from our orchards, the adornments of our
flower borders, shade and perfume of our
groves, materials for our buildings, or medicaments
for our bodies. To the gentleman it
is certainly more interesting than mineralogy
(which I by no means, however, undervalue),
and is more at hand for his amusement; and
to a country family it constitutes a great portion
of their social entertainment. No country
gentleman should be without what amuses
every step he takes into his fields.—
To Thomas Cooper. Washington ed. vi, 390.
(M.
1814)
—BOTTA'S (C.), History.—See History.
