Mei VEGETABLE 4 S57 EM 15 
thefe are the fimpleft of all Plants; and thefe only are found at that extream North 
diftenesn whatever be the country. | 
I nave not had the opportunities for an exact refearch, which are now offered, nor in- 
deed has any ; but what I know from faithful correfpondents hitherto, is this. 
In the Latitude of 82, which is but a very {mall advance from that moft Northern > 
part juft mentioned, are found Strawberries. “They are found every where round the Pole 
at this diftance. 
Bur this is not all; there are many other Plants which take in larger circles, at more 
diftance, and yet are equally, and as certainly univerfal. ‘The common Violet is found on 
the coafts of Baffins Bay, in Greenland, in Nova Zembla, and in Mufcovitic Tartary, in 
the Latitude of 76. ‘This is a Circle, in all Parts of which, I doubt not, Violets are 
— found, as we fee them in fo many places there, and thofe fo diftant. 
I nave received our common Moufe-Ear from Cumberland Ifle, from Greenland, 
Lapland, North Cape, and Siberia ; upon examination, all thefe places lie in the Lati-_ 
tude 73; and it is hence reafonable to conclude, that this Plant is alfo univerfal at that 
diftance from the Pole. 
FARTHER than this, my opportunities of perfonal enquiry have not enabled me to de- 
termine ; but even upon this foundation, that the Plants are univerfal from 73 degrees to 
the Pole, we might be very reafonably led to doubt the propofition, that any one quarter 
of the Globe was altogether without thofe common to another. 
Wuy fhould it be thought ftrange a Plant thould travel by its Saeils from 73 Aces 
to 50? We know the great opportunities there are of conveyance by winds and fea; we 
are fenfible that the quantity of Seeds produced by Plants is fo great, that if out of ten 
thoufand, one only fhall live, the Plant will be preferved, and propagate sosieih where that 
‘fhall fall. 3 ) 
Ir is not needful we fhould fuppofe a fudden flight of the Seeds of any Plant of 23 
degrees: let us confider the length of time there has been for this migration ; let us take 
into the confideration alfo, the nature of the Plant, and it will appear fo far from wonder- 
ful, that Moufe-Ear fhould be found both in Europe and America, that there will be re- 
quired almoft a miracle to prevent it. From Cumberland Ifle and Greenland, the courfe — 
is almoft due South ; and we very well know, there are not wanting North winds, in that | 
part of the world, to forward it. The Plant Moufe-Ear, produces Seeds altogether in- 
numerable ; they are very minute, and they are winged with fuch a quantity of Down, that 
’ they will float in the air a long time, even in a calm. They may then be carried very far 
by winds; and the Plant is fo hardy, that no foil prevents its growth; rocks, abfolute 
naked rocks, receive the Seed, and are often covered at vaft heights, and in an amazing 
manner, by the Plant. What then prevents its propagating itfelf gradually Southward to 
acertain Latitude ; and from the Northern Countries, fpreading itfelf, not only to New- 
foundland, but thence alfo to Penfylvania, Virginia, | and Carolina ? | 
Tuoveu it will grow in extreme cetd, we know that is not neceffary to it, becaufe it 
grows in England, and other parts of Europe: nay it thrives better here; for in the very 
cold Countries juft mentioned, it never exceeds three inches in height, whereas with us, 
it will be five or fix. 
To confirm this opinion farther, Moufe-Ear is found in Newfoundland, and in fome 
other Parts of our Colonies ; it would be rath to have Jodged from this alone, that it was 
_ Native 
