18 On the Acclimating Principle of Plants. 



lent contrasts of heat and cold, and adapt lliernselves to many 

 climates. 



Vegetables too, are organized, have their growth and decay, 

 and the powers of re-production. I'eyond this we allow them 

 but few capacities ; no locomotive powers, none of the sensi- 

 bilities common to animals, nor that pliancy which can accom- 

 modate itself to circumstances. They are the fixtures of na- 

 ture, with but little latitude in which to fiourish, and but little 

 diversity of soil from which to derive nutriment. The object 

 of this paper is to enlarge their sphere, and to show that they 

 possess more power to change tlieir climates, and capacity to 

 bear the contrasts of heat and cold, than we have generally 

 ascribed to them ; to illustrate it with many instances where 

 they have actually adapted their growth and habits to a great 

 extent of country and diversity of latituile, and to urge agri- 

 culturists to make more efforts to vary their culture. 



Plants have directly no locomotive powers, but indirectly 

 they have in a great degree the faculty of changing their pla- 

 ces, and, consequently, their climate. The embryo germ 

 wrapped in a kernel, or seed, is virtually a plant, ready to ger- 

 minate when thrown upon Its parent earth, and affected with 

 heat and moisture. It is in a most portable shape, and can 

 be transported with ease to an unlimited distance. Nature in 

 many instances superadds to seeds, wings, down, feathers and 

 chati", by which they become buoyant, and are carried by the 

 winds of heaven, by the storms that sweep the forest, and by 

 the streams and currents of rivers and the ocean, to an im- 

 mense distance, and through many degrees of latitude ! They 

 become finally deposited in some genial soil, and at one re- 

 move, or through a succession, they occupy extensive regions. 

 Nature manifests her great care of the embryo, by coating 

 some of her seeds with shells, which protect them from the at- 

 tacks of insects and the action of the elements ; others have 

 bitter, narcotic or poisonous qualities, which forbid animals 

 eating them ; and many are filled with oily, or resinous mat- 

 ter, which resists for ages, and even centuries, the action of 

 the elements, unless acted upon by the proper degree of heat 

 and moisture. By such fjualities tiiey endure, and await a 

 suitable time and conveyance to their destined place, in order 

 to extend and vary their families. 



Birds also convey the seeds of plants in their ciops over a 

 wide extent, before they become triturated and digested ; and 

 wlien these winged carriers die, or decay, from accident or 

 age, the seeds are deposited, and take root in some distant 

 land. Animals also convey them in their stomachs to a con- 



