CALABASH. NATIVE TREES. 171 



The leaves of se^teral plants retain their aromatic 

 smell for a long time, even when dried. Those of 

 a great many Geraniums are very fragrant, and you 

 are well acquainted with the odour of the leaves of 

 Mint, Thyme, Rosemary, Lavender, and several 

 other plants, commonly cultivated in gardens. 



There are but few trees in the class Didynamia, 

 and none of them are natives of this country. The 

 Calabash tree, Crescen'tia, is in the order Angio- 

 spermia, and there are two species, the oval and 

 the round-fruited, Crescen'tia Cuje'te, and C. cu- 

 curbiti'na. Both are natives of the West Indies, 

 and they are easily propagated by seed. The 

 wood of the Calabash tree is hard and smooth, 

 and is used for making different kinds of furniture. 

 The fruit varies from two inches to a foot in dia- 

 meter; but the pulp is seldom eaten, except by 

 cattle in time of drought. The small shells, of the 

 long-fruited species, are formed into spoons and 

 ladles, and those of the round fruit into cups. The 

 large shells, which sometimes hold fifteen pints, serve 

 for boiling water in, and bear the fire very well. 



EDWARD. 



I think you have told me, of very few trees that 

 are natives of England, in comparison with other 

 countries. 



MOTHER. 



When you consider how very small a part of the 



