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pci-atc countries. But, by means of hothouses of different kinds, they arc gi*own, c t g u
on tlic borders of tlic frozen zone, to the liiglicst degree of perfection : and in Britain
some of the tropical fruits, as the pine aud melon, ai'c brought to a greater size and’
better flavour than in their native habitations. Casting our eyes on man, and the effects
of his industry, wc sec liim spread on tho plains and sides of mountains, from the frozen
ocean to the equator, and every where assembling around him whatever is useful and
agreeable of his own or of other countries. The more difficulties he has to simnount
the more rapidly Ixis moral faculties arc developed ; and thus the civilisation of a ])cople
IS idmost always iu an inverse ratio with the fertility of the soil which they inhabit
What IS the reason of th is? Humboldt asks. He replies—Habit, and love of the
native soil.
S e c t . IV. Characteristic or picturesque Distribution o f Vegetables.
1118. The social and antisocial habits o f plants ai'c among tlicir most remarkable
cliaracteristics. Like animals, they live in two classes : tho one class grows alone and
scattered, as Ndanum Dulcamài-a, Xychnis dioica, ifolygonum Bistòrta, PhaUingium
Lifmgo, ¿ce. Tlie other class unites in society, like ants or bees, covers immense
surfaces, and excludes other species, such as Fragària vésca, Faccinium Myrtillus
J olygomini avicularc, Aira canescens, i ’iims sylvéstris, &c. Barton states tliat the
MitclieUa repens is the plant most extensively spread in North America, occnnviuir all
the greund between the 28° and 69° of north latitude. The Afrbntus U'va-ursi extends
from New Jersey to the 72° of latitude. On the contraiy, Gordon/a, Fi-anklmi«, and
D io næ a Muscipula, ai-c found isolated in small spots. Associated plants arc more
common m the temperate zones than in the tropics, where vegetation is less uniiorm and
more picturesque. In the temperate zones, the frequency of social plants, and the
culture of man, has rendered the aspect of the countiy comparatively monotonous.
Under the tropics, on the contrary, all sorts of forms ai*e united ; thus cypresses and
pines are found in the forests of tlie Andes of Quindiu, and of Mexico ; and bananas
palms, and bamboos in the valleys. But green meadows and the season of spring are
wanting m the south, for nature has reseiwed gifts for every region. “ The valleys of
tlic Andes, llumholdt obseiwes, “ are ornamented with bananas and palms : on the
mountains are found oaks, firs, bcrhcn-ies, alders, brambles, and a crowd of ircncra
bcheved to belong only to countries of the north. Thus the inhabitant of the enui-
nocti.fr regions views all the vegetable forms which nature has bestowed around him on
the globe ; and eiu-th developcs to Ms eyes a spectacle as varied as the azure vault of
heaven, which conceals none of its constellations.” The people of Europe do not cniov
the same advantage. The languishing plants, which, from a love of science, or from
luxury, are cultivated in our hot-houses, present only a shadow of the maicsty of equinoctial
vegetation ; but by the riclmcss of our language, we paint those countries to tho
imagination, and individual man feels a happiness peculiar to civilisation.
1119. The features of many plants are so obvious aud characteristic as to strike evcrv
general obsciweE The Scitamineæ, tree-lieaths, firs, and pines, Miraosæ, climbers,
Cjicteæ, g ris e s , lichens, mosses, palms, Fquisetàccæ, aimms, PUhos, Fracóntinm, Ma\-
wiceæ, (A-chideæ, Xiliàceæ, &c. fonn remarkable groups, distinguisliable at first sight.
Ui mese gi-oups, the most beautiful are the palms, Scitamineæ, and Xiliàceæ, wliile
the Gramincæ include the bamboos, and the Muskceoe the plantains, the most splendid
of umbrageous plants. ^
1120. The native countries o f plants may often be discovered by their feahms, m Üoe
same manner as the national distinctions which are observable iu the looks and colour of
mankind, and which are effected chiefly by climate. Asiatic plants arc remarkable for
T ré "«“ ‘y; African plants for their thick and succulent leaves, as in the case
ot the Cacti; and American plants for the length and sniootlincss of thoir leaves, and
loi a sort of singularity iii tho shape of the flower and fruit. The flowers of European
plants ai-e but rarely beautiful, a great proportion of them being amentaceous. Plants
indigenous to p o ta and mountainous regions arc generally low, with small compressed
leaves, but with flowers lai-ge m proportion. Plants indigenous to New Holland aro
distinguishable for small and diy leaves, that have often a shrivelled appearance. In
Aiabia they are low and dwai-flsh ; m the Ai-cliipolago they are generally slintbby, and
fiiraisliecl with pnckles ; while in the Canaiy Islands, many plants, which in other
comitnes are mm-ely herbs, assume the look of sln-ubs and trees. The shi-uhby plants
o f the Cape of Good Hope and New Ilolland exhibit a strildng similarity as also tlio
shrabs and trees of the northern parts of Asia and America, which may be exemplified
in the 1 latanus oriontabs of the fonner, and in the PMtaiius occidcntàlis of tiie latter, as
well as^ m Aagus sylvatica and Pàgus fcrraginea, or A'oer cappadòciiim and A'ccr
s.acchariniiin; and yet tlio herbs and under .shrabs of tho two countries do not in the
least correspond. “ A tissue of fibres,” Humboldt observes, “ more or less loose —
vegetable colours moro or less vivid, according to the chemical mixture of theii- elements.
iind the force of the solar rays— arc some of the causes which impress on the vegetables
of each zone thcir characteristic features.”
1121. The influence o f the general aspect o f vegetation on the taste and imaginaiion o f a
peojile— the dificrcnce in this respect between the monotonous oak and piiio Ibrcsts of
the temperate zones, and the picturesijue assemblages of palms, mimosas, plaintains, and
bamboos of the tropics— tlie influeiicc of the nonrislmieut, more or less stimulant,
peculiar to different zones, on the character and energy of the passions;— these,
Ilumboldt observes, unite the history of plauts with the moral and pohtical histoiy of
C h a p . V IH .
Origin o f Culture, as derived from the Study o f Vegetables,
1122. Farming and gardening are the two arts which embrace the whole business
of cultivating vegetables, for whatever puipose they are applied by civilised man, aud iu
this respect their fundamental principles arc the same; they arc all indicated by uatiu'o,
and explained by vegetable chemistry and physiology.
1123. Tke objects o f vegetable culture arc to multiply plants ; to increase their number
and retain thcir native qualities; to increase their number and improve thefr qualities;
to increase thcir magnitude ; to increase their nmnber; to improve the quality, and increase
the magnitude of particuhu* parts of the vegetable; to form new varieties for the
furtherance of all or any of tlie above puiposes; to propagate and preseiwc from
degenerating approved varieties of vegetables; and to preserve vegetables for future
use. The first step for all these objects in common, is to procm-c the desired plant,
either by removing it in an entire state from its native site, and planting it in an appro-
jiriate situation; or by gathering and sowing its seeds; or by propagating from a pai't
of the plant. Hence the general origin both of fai-ming and gardening, and of all
the different modes of propagation, transplanting, and collecting seeds. The next step
is to secm-e the plants to be cultivated from the depredations of animals or unsuitable
weather, cither by sun-ounding them with au adequate ban-icr where they arc growing
fortuitously, or by removing them to a spot already protected. Hence the origin of
fences and enclosm'cs, and plant habitations. A third step, common to all the above
objects of culture, is to remove from the vicinity of the plant to be cultivated, or from
the plant itself, all other plants, or animals, or objects likely to impede its progress.
Hence the origin of weeding, thinning, destroying insects, and curing diseases.
1124. To increase the number and retain the native qualities o f vegetables, ii \s nQ,c.c^-
sary to imitate, as exactly as circumstances will admit, thcir native habitation, in respect
to soil, climate, mode of watering, light, &c. I f the habitation is in any way amch-
orated, the qualities of the plant will be altered, and its parts enlarged, which is not
desired. All that is necessaiy, therefore, for effecting this branch of culture, is to
imitate the habitation, and to propagate. This is, or ought to be, the case, whercvcr
plants are grown for medical or botanical purposes, as iu hcrl.) and botanic gardens.
Nature is here imitated as exactly as possible; and the result is, productions resembling,
as nearly as possible, those of natm-e.
1125. To increase ihe number, and improve ihe qualities o f plants, it is necessary to
facilitate thefr mode of nutrition by removing all obstacles to the progress of the plant.
These obstacles may cither exist under or above tho sm-face; and hence the origin of
draining, clearing from surface incumbrances, and the various operations, as digging,
ploughing, &c., employed for pulverising tho soil. Nature suggests this in accidental
ruptures of the surface, broken banks, the alluvial depositions from ovci-flowing rivers,
and the earth thrown up by underground animals. Many of the vegetables within the
influence of such accidents arc destroyed, but such as remain are ameliorated in quality;
and the reason is, thcir food is increased, because, their roots being enabled to take a
more extensive range, more is brought within thcir reach.
1126. I t is necessanj, or at least advantageous, to supply food artificially; and hcncc the
origin of manuring. All organised matters ai'e capable of being converted into the food
of plants; but mineral substances ai'c also essential, and plants will not grow v-cll in
any soil in which the earthy matters they require are deficient. Mannring with decayed
vegetable and animal matter is an obvious imitation of the operations of nature, every
wlicre observable by the decaying herbage of herbaceous plants, or the fallen leaves of
trees, rotting into dust or vegetable mould about their roots: and by the effect of the
dung left by animals.
1127. The amelioration o f climate is advantageous, in improving the qualities of
vegetables, by increasing or diminishing its temperature according to the nature of the
plant; unless, indeed, it be situated in a climate which cx])cricncc and obsciTation show
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