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- 



