216 DISPERSION OP 



which they could not defend ; and before they relin 

 quished any of their possessions, they carefully rooted 

 out this, their most valuable production. But notwith- 

 standing the vigilance and the jealousy of the Dutch, 

 birds disseminated the seeds of the Nutmeg over these 

 very islands, evidently indicating, that nature will not 

 acknowledge the improper restrictions, which man 

 would make supreme. 



The hooks of the Sanicle and Cleavers attached to the 

 fleeces of the flock, are frequently carried to a distant 

 town, where they germinate and grow. " When 

 young," says Mirbel, *' I accompanied Raymond in his 

 excursion to the Pyrenees, where that learned natural- 

 ist pointed out to me these deserters from the plains be- 

 low. They grew on the remains of ruined hovels, 

 where they kept their stations in defiance of the seve- 

 rity of the winters, and remained as memorials to at- 

 test the former presence of man and his flocks." 



The seeds of aquatic vegetables adhere to the feath- 

 ers of the birds who visit them, till at last they are de- 

 posited in some distant lake. There is no place so re- 

 mote, but the Water Lily gains access to it; though its 

 set j ds cannot, like those of other vegetables, gradually 

 extend their dominion from one place to another. 



But more than birds and animals — more than wind 

 and tide, man contributes to the dispersion of seeds. 

 Of this we shall be convinced, as we learn the history 

 of many well known vegetables, as we trace them from 

 one country to another, and observe in what way they 

 have been thus extensively diffused. The wars which 

 lod many of the European nations to the Holy Land, 

 brought back many of the esculent vegetables which are 

 seen on our tables, and many of the flowers' which 

 adorn our gardens. Commerce has enriched different 



