ON WATEK PLANTS. 269 



dens. For the plain road of nature should be always followed, or at 

 least kept in view, in order to obtain healthful plants. 



In thus artificially cultivating water plants, it is ray opinion, that 

 those that naturally grow in rivers should be frequently refreshed 

 with spring-water : but such as delight to grow in standing pools or 

 ponds, should be seldom interrupted with it. 



It may also be observed, that water plants, when they are removed 

 are as long before they recover themselves, to renew their growth, as 

 land plants are. And whereas it is an usual thing to shelter land 

 plants from the heat of the sun, after they have been transplanted, 

 water plants must be treated quite contrary, and must be exposed to 

 the sun, after their removal. 



The seeds of water plants are of two kinds; the one kind swimming 

 on the top of the water, and the other sinking to the bottom as soon 

 as it is shed; following the nature of their mother plants in that re- 

 spect : for if the seeds of such plants which naturally swim on the top 

 of the water, should sink to the bottom, those seeds would not be in 

 the proper station which is required for their growth ; and so of 

 consequence would perish : and so on the other hand, the seeds of 

 such plants, which naturally grow under water, will not swim on the 

 top of it. 



It may also be observed, that in our climate no one Water Plant 

 is an evergreen ; hut all of them are either vivacious or annual, and 

 either loose their leaves down to their roots, or entirely perish, ex- 

 cepting only their seeds ; for it is impossible that they should live 

 and grow in frozen waters. 



Therefore, in order to preserve their seeds, that we mav be sup- 

 plied with the several kinds from year to year; the plants are to be 

 followed from the flower till they are ripe, and then they should be 

 put into earth and water, to preserve them fit for vegetation the next 

 spring ; for that is the way that nature takes, and there is no difficulty 

 of doing this in pots, &c. 



They may be put into the pots or troughs as soon as they are 

 gathered, and may there either sink or swim according to their 

 nature, until the spring causes them to sprout; and they will prosper 

 and require but a very little attendance. 



I do not doubt but that the seeds of Water Plants will produce as 

 many varieties as the seeds of land plants every year. 



As to exotic Water Plants, I am of opinion, that they are best 

 to be procured and brought hither in the seeds ; and whereas in 

 America the waters are generally adorned with beautiful plants ; 

 if they were procured by some ingenious correspondent in those parts 



