USEFUL TO PLANTERS AND EMIGRANTS. 143 
natural history becomes of the first importance. 
Since the only data upon which operations can be 
properly conducted, must be furnished by persons 
well versed in that science; accustomed to enquire 
into, and reflect upon, those kinds of facts, which 
none but a naturalist would ever think of. So 
strongly, indeed, were some of our West India 
proprietors impressed with the expediency of in- 
stituting enquiries of this nature, that a meeting 
was held, some few years ago, for the express 
purpose of discussing the subject. They even went 
so far as publicly to announce the name of the 
naturalist who was to be sent on this mission. For 
-some reason, however, the scheme was abandoned ; 
and although the reasons for its execution are even 
stronger now, than they were then, it cannot be ex- 
pected, in the present agitated and unsettled state 
of these colonies, that it will be soon revived. 
(86.) Let us now consider the case of another 
description of agriculturists—those who carry their 
capital and their industry abroad, for the purpose of 
settling in foreign countries. To them, an elementary 
knowledge of natural history is of much more con- 
sequence than to the English farmer, who frequently 
learns, from the experience of others, what is to be 
done in cases of emergency ; or who can, at least, 
apply for such information to scientific advisers. 
But the agricultural emigrant has not these re- 
sources: he has, for the most part, to learn every 
thing himself: he has to study soils, and try 
experiments as to the crops best adapted to them. 
These crops will frequently be attacked and de- 
