242 
Selections. [m. 2, new series. 
proportionate continuation of the culture, the number of trees will 
be increased to millions. 
" Thus we have succeeded in carrying out a matter in which the 
whole human race has an incalculable interest, and which was un- 
dertaken, not for the Netherlands alone, from thirst for gain or 
commercial speculations, but for the real benefit of mankind. We 
flatter ourselves that the Netherlands, on this account, may reckon 
on the approbation of the whole civilized world." 
Supposed Aerolite in a tree. 
We re-publish the following paper by Sir R. Murchison, from 
the proceedings of the Royal Society not only on account of the 
/ intrinsic interest attaching to the subject but as an example of care- 
ful induction and research applied to a singular natural phenome- 
non, and as an example of the caution with which conclusions 
should be drawn regarding the nature and origin of remarkable 
appearances in nature. Young and rash observers, particularly in 
India where access to books and well authenticated specimens is 
often difficult, are too apt to pronounce dogmatically on forms 
which meet them in the course of their inquiries. The care and 
circumspection exhibited by so eminent a philosopher as the Pre- 
sident of the Geological Society in this investigation should serve 
as a warning against too hasty and confident a reliance on first 
impressions. 
*' In bringing this notice before the Royal Society, it is unneces- 
sary to recite, however briefly, the history of the fall of aerolites or 
meteorites, as recorded for upwards of three thousand years, though 
I may be pardoned for reminding my Associates, that the pheno- 
menon was repudiated by the most learned academies of Europe up 
to the close of the last century. The merit of having first endea- 
voured to demonstrate the true character of these extraneous bodies 
is mainly due to the German Chladni (1794), but his efforts were at 
first viewed with incredulity. According to Vauquelin and other 
men of eminence who have reasoned on the phenomena, it was in 
1802 only that meteorites obtained a due degree of consideration 
