108 Dr. Hooker on American Botany. 



Art. XX. — On the Botany of America. By William 

 Jackson Hooker, LL.D. F.R.S.E. Communicated by 

 the Author. 



In noticing, as we propose to do, the progress of botany, and 

 the present state of that science in various parts of Europe, 

 it is by no means our intention to pass by in silence what has 

 been effected by our brethren in North America, a country 

 which, for extent and interest, has scarcely any parallel in 

 the world. If we were to estimate it from its southern extre- 

 mity, we should commence our calculations at the tenth de- 

 gree of north latitude ; but as we shall confine our observa- 

 tions to those districts which have submitted to the sway of 

 the United States, or to those which may, with more proprie- 

 ty, be termed the British possessions in North America, we 

 shall omit the Mexican dominions altogether ; and beginning 

 with the thirtieth degree of latitude, we have a space extend- 

 ing northward beyond the arctic circle ; and if we include the 

 island of Newfoundland, through eighty degrees of longitude 

 in its utmost breadth. The vegetation is as various as are 

 the climate and the soil, throughout this vast extent of conti- 

 nent. In the Floridas grows a majestic species of Palm, 

 (Chama;rops Palmetto,) and the Orange, the Cotton, the In- 

 digo, and even the Sugar cane may be cultivated there to 

 great perfection and advantage. In the Carolinas and the 

 Floridas the eye of the traveller is charmed with the beauty 

 and grandeur of the forest trees, the various species of Ever- 

 green oak, the numerous kinds of Pine, Walnut, and Plane ; 

 the majestic Tulip tree ( Liriodendrum tulipiferum), reach- 

 ing to the height of 140 feet, and loaded with large and bril- 

 liant flowers, the curious deciduous Cypress, and the superb 

 Magnolias. 



A different vegetation occurs in the more northerly of the 

 United States ; and what renders the botany of North Ame- 

 rica peculiarly interesting to the British naturalist is, that a 

 very large proportion of its vegetable productions may be as- 

 similated to our own climate. This is especially the case with 

 that extensive portion of it under our immediate considera- 

 tion. The Oaks and Firs of this district of North America 



