52 The Pyracantha, or evergreen^thom. 



I should issue my own piece to the public. His book 

 was written many years ago, and adapted to the cli- 

 mate and other local contingencies of Britain. In 

 reading it I was highly gratified to find that a writer 

 of his practical skill and discernment, had long since 

 recommended the Pyracantha, as a fit plant to fill up 

 gaps, and close the bottoms of hedges in that country ; 

 though I had never heard of, nor seen it applied to 

 that purpose, nor ever knew it, but in the transient 

 glance of its name, in catalogues of plants, except as 

 already related, until I became intimately acquainted 

 with it in this country. Previous to reading Dr. An- 

 derson's essays, I had for a number of years perceived, 

 that the most intemperate heat of the weather here 

 had no other effect upon the Pyracantha, than to che- 

 rish its growth, and that when once it had taken root, 

 it never languished during the severest drought, but 

 continued in those times more rapidly to elongate its 

 shoots; and retained, without shrinking, the usual 

 brightness of its verdure. I considered that the strong- 

 est heat of our summer sun was congenial to its nature ; 

 and knowing now that it has been recommended by 

 the judicious agriculturist above named, as a suitable 

 plant for the purpose which he describes, under the 

 weak and winking influence of the sun in Scodand, I 

 am confident that it grows faster, and will attain to far 

 superior strength in America. Of what country it is 

 a native, I know not ;^ but I know that it bears the 



* Dr. Martyn says that it is a native of the south of Europe ; 

 common on Caucasus, and in the Chersonesus Taurica ; also in 

 China. It was cultivated in England in 1629. It is now called 



