Naturalization of Plants. 209 



hereafter be of some moment when this subject shall be better 

 understood. At so small a distance as that of the neighbouring 

 shore of France, the same plants, in the same summer, possess 

 an odour, which, if odours could be measured, might be pro- 

 nounced twenty or fifty times greater than in Guernsey. In a cer- 

 tain sense, this can be decided on ; inasmuch as the smell of the 

 common jasmine in that part of France can scarcely be endured, 

 from its power, while a single flower appears to possess more 

 of the quantity or matter of odour, than a hundred grown in 

 Guernsey, as well as in England. And it is the same as to the Rose 

 and others ; proving, as it would seem, that, as to this result, light 

 and heat are more essential thanfin the case of general vigour, or 

 even colour. The broad fact, as to the flowers of the south of 

 France and Italy, is sufficiently familiar; and hence the com- 

 parative futility of the attempts to extract perfume from most 

 English flowers, and the infinite superiority of those made about 

 Hyeres and Frejus. 



I have not thought it worth while, in the following list, to 

 distinguish the plants exclusively hardy in Guernsey, from those 

 which have also recently been rendered so in England ; because 

 those acquainted with our* present horticulture can readily dis- 

 tinguish them. Some of them are introduced, not because of this, 

 hut for the sake of their peculiar vigour or other circumstances, 

 as I know very well that they are, as far as mere hardiness goes, 

 hardy also with ourselves ; while where others, equally hardy 

 with us, are here named, it is because they are common weeds, 

 even in the gardens of the cottagers, when, with us, though 

 hardy, they are still considered somewhat delicate, or are rare out 

 of doors. 



The Physalis alkekengi, the Solanum pseudo capsicum, and 

 most others of the genus generally found in our gardens, are 

 hardy, even to neglect. The Peonia arborea is as much so as the 

 common peony ; arid the Yucca aloifolia, somewhat rare in our 

 gardens, is there common, and covered with a constant profusion 

 of flowers, growing also to a very large stature. I need scarcely 

 perhaps say that the Laurus nobilis is as hardy as the myrtle ; 



VOL. XXI. P 



