222 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



by establishments, however excellent, like the Bo- 

 tanical Garden at Chelsea. A similar society was 

 formed in Scotland in 1809, at the suggestion of 

 Dr. Andrew Dnncan, senior ; and there are many 

 local societies, whose objects are the same, which 

 have contributed in like degree to lead the rich to 

 the encouragement of horticulture, and to instruct 

 those who practise the art, in the real value of a higher 

 knowledge, both of the nomenclature and the physi- 

 ology of plants, than had formerly been considered 

 necessary or even fitting for practical men. 



A popular division of fruits, in a sketch of which 

 the object is more to excite than to gratify a desire 

 for the knowledge of their history and properties, 

 must principally have reference to those differences 

 of climate by which they are brought to maturity in 

 the open air. Without following, therefore, a strict 

 geographical arrangement, we shall first treat of 

 fruits of the temperate climates, and, secondly, of 

 tropical fruits. 



Of the fruits of the temperate climates, the follow- 

 ing will comprise the principal genera : — 



I. Fleshy Fruits, having the seeds enclosed in mem- 



branous cells. 



II. Pulpy Fruits, having the seeds lying among 



pulp. 



III. Stone Fruits, having the seed enclosed in a 

 hard nut, covered with flesh. 



IV. Nids, or dry fruits, which are neither fleshy 



nor pulpy. 



