280 GENERAL VIEWS, 



largest in those parts belong to the myrtle tribe, and 

 have a punctured foliage, diffusing an .romatic scent 

 when bruised. There are likewise many shrubs of 

 the pulse-tribe with a composite foliage ; but the leaf 

 lets of the leaves are only evolved on the planfs first 

 rising from the seed. As it advances to maturity, the 

 naked footstalks widen into simple lanceolate blades, 

 or become transformed into acicular spines, resembling 

 the leaves of Asparagus. In New; Hollaad the Prota- 

 ceaz abound ; so they do at the Cape of Good Hope ; 

 but the LiliaceiB, which decorate the African pro- 

 montory so profusely, are, on the contrary, rare in 

 New Holland. It is a fact as notorious as surprising, 

 that no one vegetable belonging to the countries to- 

 wards the southern pole produces a single fruit for the 

 food of man. 



There are divers conditions, without the perfor- 

 mance of which the growth of the different species 

 cannot proceed. An uninterrupted heat is requisite for 

 some ; a moment's decrease in it is fatal to them ; some 

 withstand a considerable degree of cold while their sap 

 is quiescent, but want a high degree of heat when that 

 is once in motion ; some like a moderate temperature, 

 and dread equally the excess of both heat and cold. It 

 is upon the observation of such appearances that the 

 cultivator grounds his practice ; he knows that it would 

 be in vain for him to attempt to grow, without shelter, 

 either the Date or Orange, beyond the 43d degree of 

 northern latitude ; that the Olive will do a little be- 

 yond ; that the vine is barren beyond the latitude of 

 50 degrees, or at least never brings its grape to per- 

 fection. He is cautious of exposing in a southern as- 

 pect, the species whose sap is readily set in motion by 

 the first gleam of warmth ; he knows that the Jate 



