28 



hibiscus as they have in India, they might be 

 desirable." 



I assured my aunt that I did not prefer those 

 plants for beauty, but as useful from their 

 strength, and, therefore, worth introducing into 

 England. 



(l I am afraid," said she, " their succulent 

 nature might make them liable to be injured by 

 frost." " Besides," said my uncle, " these plants 

 have not yet been well naturalised to our climate, 

 though they do grow in the open ground in some 

 few gardens ; and then we have our beautiful 

 whitethorn and our furze, both of which, if kept 

 in order, and well clipped, make a secure fence 

 against all depredators ; the holly, too, with its 

 bright and beautiful dark green foliage, makes 

 an admirable hedge." 



As we walked along, my uncle shewed me all 

 these and other plants for hedges, saying, " You 

 may observe, Bertha, that one of the numerous 

 marks of a gracious Providence is the variety 

 of means which he puts at our command in the 

 different parts of the world. In every region we 

 find plants suited to the soil and climate, and 

 adapted for the use and advantage of its inha- 

 bitants ; and we may generally discover some 

 circumstance attending them, which renders 

 those native productions of peculiar value to the 

 people who possess them." 



