CHAP. VI. CONCLUSION. 19] 
the different countries situated in temperate climates, which are not indi- 
genous to Britain, with the catalogues of plants considered as already intro- 
duced into this country, it will be found that there are some names of species 
and varieties, in the lists of almost every country, that are not in British 
catalogues, and, consequently, not yet introduced. There are a number of 
names, for example, that are not in our Hortus Britannicus. Here, then, is 
an important use in giving these lists, because they point out to commercial 
gardeners, and to amateurs and travellers who are botanists, what trees 
and shrubs it is desirable to enquire after in other countries; and what they 
should endeavour, if possible, to introduce into their own. It may also be 
observed, that the same names that are in the lists in preceding chapters 
frequently occur in British catalogues; yet it is by no means certain that in 
every case they are applied to the same plants. Here, then, is another point 
calling for the exertions of the patriotic botanist or traveller; and it may be 
observed respecting this point, that it will always be the safest side to err on, 
to reintroduce plants which are already in the country, rather than to remain 
in any doubt respecting our possessing them. All trees and shrubs liable 
to great variations, and of great utility or ornament, such as the genera 
Quércus, Pinus, Pyrus, Crata‘gus, &c., ought to be introduced in all their 
varieties. We are persuaded that there are, in France and Spain, many inte- 
resting varieties of Pinus, and of Quercus Cérris and Q. Ilex, which have 
not yet found their way into British gardens. The Quércus australis, re- 
cently introduced in consequence of the information given by Captain Cook 
(see p. 171.), may be cited as a proof of this; and there are, doubtless, hun- 
dreds of species and varieties of trees and shrubs in North America, that 
have never yet been seen in Europe. There is, therefore, ample room for 
exertion, to those who wish to increase the botanical riches of their country ; 
and more especially in the case of that kind of botanical riches which adds so 
conspicuously and permanently to its ornament, and to its useful resources. 
It would, however, be a very contracted view of this subject, to limit our 
views to the aggrandisement of the collections of trees and shrubs in Britain, 
The time for believing that the exclusive possession of any benefit contributes 
to the prosperity or happiness of nations is gone by; and the principles of 
free and universal exchange and intercourse are found to constitute the 
surest foundation for the happiness of nations. This is so obviously true in 
matters of botany and gardening, that it cannot for a moment be doubted. 
If it is desirable for us that we should assemble in our country the trees 
.and shrubs of every other similar climate, it must be equally desirable that 
the inhabitants of every other similar climate should possess all those species - 
for which their climate is adapted; in short, it is desirable for the advance- 
ment of civilisation and human refinement, that all the trees and shrubs of 
temperate climates should be distributed throughout all those climates. This 
will, no doubt, be the case at some future period, when the civilisation of 
the whole world is comparatively equalised ; and, in the mean time, it may be 
useful to offer such hints as will contribute towards so desirable a result. 
One of the first steps towards the equalisation of the plants of different 
regions, of similar capacities for growing such plants, is, to determine, with 
something like precision, what the plants of each region are. This can only 
be done by assembling living specimens of all of them, or of such a class of 
them as it may be desirable to equalise, in one garden, and cultivating them 
there for some time, so as to determine the species and varieties. In old 
countries of limited extent, such as Britain, which have been examined by 
botanists for two or three centuries, the establishment of botanic gardens for 
determining the number of indigenous species of plants may be considered 
unnecessary ; but this is far from being the case with such countries as North 
America, Upper India, China, Japan, Van Diemen’s Land, and a number of 
others. It would, doubtless, contribute to the spread, all over the world, 
of the trees and shrubs of North America, if one part of them could be seen 
in a grand national garden at New York, and another in a garden or arboretum 
Q : 
