21 



beautiful theory of the northern Plmy. On the Afri- 

 can coast of the Mediterranean, a custom, based on 

 the same principles, has prevailed, from the earlie&t 

 ages, in the cultivation of the Date — that " Tree of 

 Life" to the natives of those sultry regions. The 

 stamens and pistils of that species of Palm are pro- 

 duced on different trees, and those which afford the 

 former being relatively quite low, it is necessary to 

 cut off the blossoms and place them, by means of 

 ladders, over those of the female trees, which are 

 very lofty. If this is not done, the pollen does not 

 reach the stigmas, and there is no fruit. This prac- 

 tice, however, does not derogate from the honor due 

 to the scientific Knight, to whom we are unquestion- 

 ably indebted for that valuable discovery, by which 

 new varieties of every species of fruit and flower 

 may be infinitely multiplied. 



Having been so long dependent upon our trans- 

 atlantic co-laborators, it now becomes a duty, to at- 

 tempt a reciprocation of the numerous benefits we 

 have received ; and, by emulating their zeal, intelli- 

 gence, and experimental industry, we must develop 

 the resources of our own country, which offers such 

 an extensive, interesting, and prolific field of research 

 to the adventurous naturalist. Many of the most use- 

 ful and magnificent acquisitions of the groves, fields, 

 gardens, and conservatories of Europe, are natives of 

 the Western hemisphere. The indigenous forest- 

 trees, ornamental shrubs, flowers, fruits, and edible 

 vegetables of North-America are remarkable for their 

 variety, size, splendor, and value. Extending from 

 the Polar regions to those of the tropics, and from the 



