as cmrvpared with the Present. 149 



ence. In such case, would it not be considered one of the 

 wonderful events of our time ? When should we get done 

 talking about it ? 



But this subject is so fruitful, care must be taken that your 

 pages be not overburdened with it ; if, indeed, too much has 

 not been already said. Allow me, in addition, to tranfer to 

 your pages the following extract from a letter of Evelyn to 

 Dr. Wilkins, Feb. 17, 1660, which I do without remark : — 



" It is certain, as Dr. Goddard has shewed, that a section 

 of any tree- made parallel to the horizon, will, by the close- 

 ness of the circles, point to the North, and so, consequently, if 

 a perpendicular be drawn through them for the meridian, the 

 rest of the cardinalls &c., found out ; but this is not so uni- 

 versall, but that, where strong reflections are made, as from 

 walls, the warme fumes of dunghills, and especially if the 

 southern side be shaded, &c., those ellipticall and hyperbol- 

 icall circles are sometimes very irregular ; and I doubt not 

 but, by some art, might be made to have their circles as order- 

 ly as those which we find in Brazille, Ebene, &c., which, 

 within a very little, concentre by reason of the uniforme course 

 of the sun about them ; which is doubtless the cause of their 

 greater dilatation on the South part only with us, where the 

 pores are more open and lesse constipated. The considera- 

 tion whereof (though nowhere mentioned that I know) made 

 the poet, giving advice concerning transplantations, to cau- 

 tion thus : — 



' Quin etiara Coeli regionem in cortice signant, 

 Ut quo quoaque modo steterit, qua parte calores 

 Austrinos tulerit, qua) terga obverterit axi, 

 Restituant : ades in teneris consuescere mullum est.' 



And though Pliny neglect it as an unnecessary curiosity, I 

 can, by much experience confirme it, that not one tree in 100 

 would miscarry were it duly observed ; for, in some, I have 

 made tryall of it even at Midsummer." 

 Coshocton, February 13, 1847. 



Probably a portion of our readers will not be able to give a 

 free translation to the above quotations ; and will think they 

 might have been omitted : but we preferred to give our corre- 

 spondent's communication entire. — Ed. 



15* 



