Naturalization of Plants. 205 



us by their unwilling growth. And, in addition, I should wish to 

 prove, if indeed it can be proved, that a process of naturalization can 

 really be carried on by sowing native seeds ; or at least, that this is 

 so far true respecting certain plants, though it may not be a general 

 law, as to render a continuation of the same experiments advisable. 

 Any other miscellaneous remarks that may arise, must defend 

 themselves on the claims of their utility. 



On the question of naturalization by sowing, I formerly re- 

 marked, that the Canna indica had here become an absolute weed, 

 propagating itself perpetually. One of two useful conclusions 

 follows. It has either been naturalized by this process, as the 

 Zizania is supposed to have been, or else this West Indian plant, a 

 native of a hot and moist region, was originally a hardy plant for 

 this climate. If this last only be the conclusion, it is a temptation 

 to try an endless number of other annuals or biennials, or of 

 plants generally, whose roots remain in the ground to spring 

 up afresh in summer. It is possible that the successful list may 

 prove a long and a valuable one. 



Supposing this to be the real fact as to the Canna, it is con- 

 firmed by another plant, which proved to be hardy in Guernsey, 

 arid sprung at once in the open air from imported seeds, producing 

 also its own seeds. This is a species of Panicum, the Guinea 

 grass. We might indeed expect hardiness in this tribe, if in any, 

 from our general knowledge of their peculiarities, and from the 

 wide geography, artificial in so many cases, of the common 

 Cerealia. Should this prove true, even our agriculture might 

 gain widely by the -( introduction of many of the grasses of hot 

 climates : a result that might often be profitable, even when the 

 seeding was uncertain, in the case of these being durable, or 

 perennial, or propagating by roots. It would be singular if this 

 Panicum should be the only hardy grass of a hot climate. 



This capriciousness, as to hardiness, is also evinced by the 

 Pine-apple, which, it is now known, can be cultivated and ripened 

 without fire ; although, from the usual obstinacy shewn as to all 

 improvements, the practice has not spread. The fruit thus grown 

 in Guernsey, and probably elsewhere, is fully equal in bulk and 



