[58 3 
the depeed and mod lading blac k, that ever was yet 
known. They call the plant they employ for that 
purpofe Cafcalote j it is arboreous, with fmall leaves 
and yellow flowers j its growth is dill flower than 
that of an oak ; it is the lead corrohvc of all the 
known fubftances employed in dying, and drikep 
the deeped black ; fo that, for indance, it penetrates 
a hat to fuch a degree, that the very rags of it are 
thoroughly black. The leaves of the Cafcalote are 
iirnilar to thole of the Hufiaoke, another plant iik&- 
wife uled for dying black with, but of an inferior 
quality. The latitude of California lets us hope, 
that the country near the Miflifiippi, or one of the 
Florida’s, contains this Cafcalote, the acquifldcn of 
which would be of infinite ufe in our manufac- 
tures. 
Were Natural Hidory thus employed in applying 
the natural produffions for procuring the necefiaries, 
or adding to the comforts and ornaments, of human 
life, it would for the future free this fcicnce from 
the vulgar opinion, that it is merely lpeeulati-ve, and 
incapable of being of the lead utility in common 
life ; a prejudice which gains more ground bv the 
injudicious and unprofitable manner, now chiefly in 
vogue, in dudying this branch of human knowledge ; 
and which might be removed, if powerful trading 
companies would encourage the effortsof the naturalid, 
by enabling them to fearch the treafures of nature, 
in the various countries fubjedf to the Britilh Crown, 
and connected with its fubjedts by trade and com- 
merce Pardon, Sir, that I detain you fo long on 
2 . point of which you are fo well convinced, and 
which 
