CHAP, i S Y L V A ii 



what it gives and contributes of necessary and con- 

 stituent matter, without the soil and temper of the 

 climate co-operate ; which otherwise, retards both 

 the growth and substance of what the earth produces, 

 sensibly altering their qualities, if some friendly and 

 genial heat be wanting to exert the prolifick virtue : 

 This we find, that the hot and warmer regions 

 produce the tallest and goodliest trees and plants, in 

 stature and other properties far exceeding those of 

 the same species, born in the cold north : So as 

 what is a gyant in the one, becomes a pumilo, and 

 in comparison, but a shrubby dwarf in the other ; 

 deficient of that active spirit, which elevates and 

 spreads its prolifick matter and continual supplies 

 without check, and is the cause of not only the 

 leaves deserting the branches, whilst those trees and 

 plants of the more benign climate, are clad in 

 perennial verdure : And those herbacious plants, 

 which with us in the hottest seasons hardly perfect 

 their seeds before Winter, and require to be near 

 their genial beds and nurse, and sometimes the 

 artificial heat of the hot-bed. Lastly, to all this I 

 would add that other chearful vehicle, light ; which 

 the gloomy and torpent north is so many months 

 depriv'd of ; the too long seclusion whereof is 

 injurious to our exotics, kept in the conservatories, 

 since however temper'd with heat, and duly refresh'd; 

 they grow sickly, and languish without the admission 

 of light as well as air, as I have frequently found. 



