[502] Ptolemaic schemes. The system of geography and astronomy taught in the second century by Ptolemy of Alexandria; it was accepted till the sixteenth century, when the Copernican system was established. Ptolemy believed that the sun, planets, and stars revolve around the earth; Copernicus taught that the planets revolve around the sun.
[503] Flora. In Roman mythology, the goddess of the spring and of flowers.
[504] Fauna. In Roman mythology, the goddess of fields and shepherds; she represents the fruitfulness of the earth.
[505] Ceres. The Roman goddess of grain and harvest, corresponding to the Greek goddess, Demeter.
[506] Pomona. The Roman goddess of fruit trees and gardens.
[507] All duly arrive. Emerson deducts from nature the doctrine of evolution. What is its teaching?
[509] Himalaya Mountain chains. (See note [193].)
[510] Franklin. Give an account of Benjamin Franklin, the famous American scientist and patriot. What did he prove about lightening?
[511] Dalton. John Dalton was an English chemist who, about the beginning of the nineteenth century, perfected the atomic theory, that is, the theory that all chemical combinations take place in certain ways between the atoms, or ultimate particles, of bodies.