*4 



On the Climate of the 



the first in rank of these phenomena, is one observed within these 

 few years by botanists, which every day confirms ; on comparing 

 the places in which certain trees and plants grow spontaneously 

 on the east and on the west of the Alleghanies, they have discov- 

 ered that there is a general and uniform -difference, equivalent to" 

 three degrees of latitude in favour of the basin of the Ohio and 

 Mississippi ; in other words, those trees and plants, which require 

 a warm climate, and winters less cold and of shorter duration, are 

 found three degrees farther north on the west of the Alleghanies, 

 than to the east on the Atlantic coast : thus cotton, which succeeds 

 at Cincinnati and Fort Vincents, in the latitude of 39°, has not yet 

 been found capable of cultivation in the Carolinas farther north 

 than 35° or 36°. It is the same with the catalpa, sassafras, pa- 

 paw, pecan or Illinois nut, and many other trees and plants, a par- 

 ticular enumeration of which, would require more skill in this 

 branch of natural history than I possess."* 



As this is merely an extension of the argument of Mr. Jefferson, 

 and as M. Volney not only confesses his partial knowledge, but 

 evinces his total ignorance of plants, I should not have noticed his 

 remarks, had he not insinuated that he was quoting the language 

 of standard botanical authors. It will therefore bo necessary to 

 examine the history of those plants which are said to be found 

 " three degrees farther north on the west of the Alleghanies, than 

 to the east on the Atlantic coast." 



1. CotionA — Botanists and agriculturalists inform us that this 

 plant does not require a great degree of heat ; and from the exper- 

 iments that have already been made, no doubt remains that it may 

 be cultivated in any part of the temperate zone. It is found to suc- 

 ceed not only in the states of Virginia and Maryland, but in the 

 vicinity of the city of New-York, in latitude 40° 40'. Ascending 

 to the north it becomes gradually more hardy, and at length is in a 

 great measure, habituated to the climate, suffering however, as it 

 does in all other situations when an unusual degree of cold pre- 

 vails. Perhaps, indeed it will never constitute an article of com- 

 merce in any of the northern states, J but in all probability a suffi- 

 cient quantity will be raised to supply the wants of the inhabitants. 



