92 CLIMBERS. 



and the genus has its name from M. Adanson, a 

 French traveller, who resided several years in that 

 country. The roots often spread to more than a 

 hundred feet around; the top is crowded with 

 great branches, like trees, which run out from it 

 in all directions, and touch the ground at their ex- 

 tremities ; and though the stem is not more than 

 twelve or fifteen feet high, it is often from eighty 

 to ninety feet round. You will not, then, be sur- 

 prised to hear that whole families of negroes some- 

 times live in the hollow trunk of this singular tree; 

 which is remarkably long-lived, and has been even 

 computed to live more than a thousand years. 



Near the equator, too, gigantic climbers are 

 found, which grow to the length of several hun- 

 dred yards. 



EDWARD. 



What are Climbers? 



MOTHER. 



Im a glad that you have asked this question"; and 

 whenever I mention any thing that you do not quite 

 understand, you must not hesitate to say so. Plants 

 are called climbers, when they are unable to sup- 

 port themselves, but take advantage of whatever is 

 near to raise themselves upon ; such as the Vine, 

 and Virgin's bower. Many of these are furnished 

 with tendrils, or claspers, with which they take hold 

 of whatever can support them; some of them twist- 



