MADEIRA. 19 
down, in the course of ages, an accumulation of loose earthy 
particles, would seem to contradict the common opinion that 
its name was given in consequence of the vast forests with 
Avhich it originally abounded. There certainly is not the least 
appearance that such has ever been the case : thickets of 
underwood might have covered several parts of the brow of 
the mountain, and such patches of ground in the glens as are 
now converted into vineyards and orchards ; but there never 
could have been such forests and thickets as to justify the 
idea of the conflagration having lasted for seven years, as we 
are told by Portugueze historians. The native shrubby plants 
that chiefly prevail are broom, cytisus, whortleberrj^ laurel, 
myrtle, brambles, euphorbia, cactus, a fine scented jessamine, 
and wild olives. It was these which, viewing them from the 
ship, our imaginations had transformed into groves of oranges, 
lemons, citrons, and other fruit trees that are congenial with 
such a climate. A species of lavender, a stock, and several 
of our cultivated plants, are found in their natural state. 
The common fern is abundant, so likewise is polypody, 
maiden-hair, and other cryptogamous plants. Wormwood, 
trefoil, nightshade, bugloss, fox-glove. Saint John^s Avort, 
convolvulus, plaintain, and many of our grasses grow on the 
sides of the hills, wherever there happens to be the smallest 
quantity of soil to fix their roots. 
The cultivated plants are vines, oranges, lemons, citrons, 
figs, bananas, guavas, apricots, peaches, and European fruits, 
besides good walnuts and chesnuts. The island produces 
wheat, barley, and rye ; but more than two-thirds of the grain 
consumed is imported from the Azores or Western Islands^ 
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