210 BOTANY. 



The Oak and Larch. 



Not more than 40 oak-trees can stand on an acre 

 of ground, so as to grow to a full size fit for a ship 

 of the line. 



The timber of the larch thrives well, and grows 

 well in bad soils and exposed situations ; yet its tim- 

 ber has been found to be very durable, and, from 

 several experiments, not inferior in strength, tough- 

 ness, and elasticity, to the oak. 



The oak is found growing as freely in Eastern 

 Tartary, China, Cochin China, Hindostan, Persia, 

 and Japan, as in Europe. 



The Peach Tree. 



A gentleman at Madras says, he found the best 

 way of raising peach-trees was, to take the kernel 

 out of the stone and plant it by itself. The trees 

 came up in 8 or 10 days. 



The Clove. 



The clove of commerce is, in fact, the flower be- 

 fore its expansion. The fruit is a very different thing, 

 and quite unknown as an article of commerce. 



The Orange Tree. 



At St. Michael's and the Azores Islands, there are 

 oranges throughout the whole year, but the principal 

 crop is in January. The usual crop of a good orange- 

 tree, in common years, is from 6000 to 8000 ; in- 

 stances, however, have occurred, of from 26,000 to 

 29,000 having been gathered from one tree. 



The, Cotton Plant. 



There are several species of the gossypium, or 

 cotton-plant ; one is annual, and another a biennial 



