C 58 3 



the depeeft and moil lading black, that ever was yet 

 known. They call the plant. they employ for that 

 L purpofe Cafcaiote j it is arboreous, with fmall leaves 

 and yellow flowers; its growth is Hill flower than 

 that of an oak j it is the lead corrolive of all the 

 known fubdances employed in dying, and drikes 

 the deeped black ; fo that, for inftance, it penetrates 

 a hat to fuch a degree, that the very rags of it are 

 thoroughly black. The leaves of the Cafcaiote are 

 iirnilar to thofe of the Hufiaoke, another plant like- 

 •wife ufed for dying black with, but of an inferior 

 ^quality. The latitude of California lets us hope, 

 -that the country near the Miffiiiippi, or one of the 

 -•Florida's, contains this Cafcaiote, the acquifition of 

 which would be of infinite ufe in our manufac- 

 tures. 



Were Natural Hiftory thus employed in applying 

 the natural productions for procuring the necefTaries, 

 -or adding to the comforts and ornaments, of human 

 life, it would for the future free this fcience from 

 the vulgar opinion, that it is merely fpeculative, and 

 incapable of being of the lead utility in common 

 life; a prejudice which gains more ground by the 

 injudicious and unprofitable manner, now chiefly in 

 "vogue, in dudying this branch of human knowledge; 

 •and which might be removed, if powerful trading 

 companies would encourage the efforts of the naturalid, 

 by enabling them to fearch the treafures of nature, 

 in the various countries fubjecl: to the Britim Crown, 

 and connected with its fubjects by trade and corn- 

 amerce Pardon, Sir, that I detain you fo long on 

 •a point of which you are fo well convinced, and 



which 



