130 THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 



OF THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 



The introduction of foreign plants and seeds into Europe 

 is of the utmost consequence, not only in a scientific point of 

 view,, but because many of them prove of the utmost utility to 

 mankind. First then, the introduction of plants in a living- 

 state is of much importance, and if it is inconvenient to trans- 

 port these, their seeds ought to be procured. 



The strictest attention ought to be paid to the local situa- 

 tion in which the plants grow ; the particular quality of the 

 soil ; whether of a sandy or clayey, or calcareous or vegetable 

 mould ; whether in moist or dry situations ; its uses in the 

 country where it is found, whether as food or medicine j and 

 every thing else connected with its history. 



The coffee trees were first introduced into the green houses 

 of the garden of plants, at Paris, and from thence transported 

 to the American Islands. And more recently, the bread-fruit 

 tree was sent from France to Cayenne, where it has thriven in 

 a remarkable manner, and proved a blessing to the inhabitants 

 of that country. In the like manner have many of the most 

 useful and ornamental woods of our forests and lawns been 

 introduced. The seeds of plants should be procured when 

 they are in a perfectly ripe state, to insure their propagation. 

 They should be put in separate papers ; that is, each species 

 by itself; with a memorandum stating whether it be a tree or 

 an herb its native country the nature of the soil its eleva- 

 tion above the sea, and its native name. 



When seeds are ripe, they are easily separated from the 

 plants ; but when it is found that they are not perfectly ripe, 

 and the traveller cannot remain in the neighbourhood till they 

 are so, a branch may be brought away with the seeds adher- 

 ing, which will assist in ripening them. 



The bags containing seeds should be packed in cases covered 

 with pitch to prevent the entrance of damp, insects, or mice, 

 to destroy them. M. de Candolle packed the seeds which he 

 procured in moist countries in powdered charcoal, which effec- 

 tually prevented the effects of damp. 



Seeds which are of an oily nature, are most liable to lose 

 their germinating faculty ; of this kind are those of coffee, 



