INTRODUCTION.

The greater part of the natural productions whichsurround us, and which minister to our wants andenjoyments, are presented to us, not ready fitted forour purposes, but rather with a capacity of beingadapted to our use. The beasts of the forest, andthe wild fruits of the earth, would afford only aprecarious subsistence for a few savage tribes. It isto the research, the intelligence, and industry ofman, that nature yields up her treasures, and dis-covers her resources.

The wants of increasing numbers, no doubt soontaught mankind this lesson, and still urged them onat every step of their advance in the arts and sci-ences, in agriculture and manufactures. And as thepressure of numbers has not ceased, so neither arethe resources of Nature exhausted. From ourpresent position, we see new fields of discovery ex-tending before us; and his labours are as valuableas ever, who brings to light new facts, or elicits newprinciples.