264 S Y L V A BOOK ii 



and what other useful curiosities do not approach our 

 northern Bear, (and that are yet incicurabiles amongst 

 us) and to plant them in Jamaica, and other of the 

 Western Islands, as a more safe and frugal expedient 

 to humble our emulous neighbours ; since there is 

 nothing in their situation, or defect of nature's ben- 

 ignity, which ought in the least to discourage us : 

 And what if some of the trees of those countries 

 (especially such as aspire to be timber, and may be of 

 improvement amongst us) were more frequently 

 brought to us likewise here in England ; since we 

 daily find how many rare exotics, and strangers, with 

 little care, become endenizon'd, and so contented to 

 live amongst us, as may be seen in the platanus, 

 Constantinople-chesnut, the greater glandiferous t/ex, 

 cork, nux vesicaria (which is an hard wood, fit for the 

 turner, &c.) the styrax^ bead-tree, the famous tofus, 

 Virginian acacia, guaiacum Patavinum, paliurus, cypress, 

 pines, fir, and sundry others; which grow already in 

 our gardens, expos'd to the weather ; and so doubt- 

 less would many more : So judiciously observ'd is that 

 of the learned author of the history of the Royal 

 Society, part. 3. sect. 28, ' That whatever attempts 

 ' of this nature have succeeded, they have redounded 

 ' to the great advantage of the undertakers. The 

 c orange of China being of late brought into Portugal, 



* has drawn a great revenue every year from London 

 4 alone. The vine of the Rhene, taking root in the 

 ' Canaries, has produc'd a far more delicious juice, and 

 4 has made the rocks, and sun-burnt ashes of those 

 ' islands, one of the richest spots of ground in the 

 ' world. And I will also instance in that which is 



* now in a good forwardness : Virginia has already 

 ' given silk for the cloathing of our King ; and it 



