0?i the Acclimating Principle of Plants, 111 



stances, and the strong contrasts of seasons. Nature else would 

 be wanting in her usual foresight, and in her adaptation of one 

 thing to another. 



If an animal is carried by accident, or its own wanderings, to 

 a country or climate that is not congenial to its nature, it can 

 and does make use of its locomotive powers, to regain one that 

 is more suitable to it. This happens every day. Thousands of 

 birds and fish, and other animals, migrate regularly, to avoid 

 even the diflerent seasons of the same year, and could not, with 

 all their versatility of constitution, exist without it. We may 

 infer, then, that plants, which, after having rooted themselves, 

 cannot migrate at all, should be endowed with faculties to hear 

 all the changes of the seasons, and even of climate, in the same 

 dull place of their existence. They are so endowed, and can often 

 bear more changes, and support more disasters of storms and 

 ravages of insects, than animals ; and often continue to flourish 

 under violent and sudden changes. 



Human care, and the providences of nature, have given to 

 many plants a great extent of climate and latitude, an enlarged 

 growth, and an increased and improved product. Let us bring 

 together such instances as are within the knowledge of all, and 

 which ought to stimulate our cultivators to greater efforts. 



The valley of the Euphrates was doubtless the native region 

 of all those fine and delicious fruits which enrich our orchards, 

 and enter so largely into the luxury of living. We thence de- 

 rived all the succulent and nutritious vegetables that go so far to 

 support life ; and even the farinaceous grains appertain to the 

 same region. The cereal productions began in that same valley 

 to be the staff of life. 



Our corn, our fruit, our vegetables, our roots, and oil, have all 

 travelled with man from Mesopotamia up to latitude 60°, and 

 even farther, in favourable situations. The cares of man have 

 made up for the want of climate, and his cultivation atoned for 

 this alienation from their native spot. The Scandinavians of 

 Europe, the Canadians of North America, and the Samoides of 

 Asia, are now enjoying plants which care and cultivation have 

 naturalized in their bleak climes. Melons and peaches, with 

 many of the more tender plants and fruits, once almost tropical, 

 have reached the 45th degree of latitude in perfection, and are 

 found even in 50°. Rice has travelled from the tropics to 36% 



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