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 uimost 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; 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 
| aremarkable 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 ihe 
_ plants; but when it is found that they are not perfectly ripe, 
Se a ee = eal ———— 
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, 
