Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/412

 The second Advancement of this Work may be accomplished, by carrying and transplanting living Creatures and Vegetables from one Climate to another. This will be very beneficial, though it will be performed with a various Success. Sometimes the Soil and the Air being chang'd, will give a new Force to the new Guests; as the Arabian Horse, by mingling with our Breed, produces a more serviceable Race than either of them single. And sometimes the Alteration will be for the worse; as the Vine of France brought into England, and the Horses and Dogs of England into France, both of which are found to degenerate exceedingly: Their Soil and their Sun, it seems, being fitter to produce Things of Pleasure and Delight; and our Air and our Earth being more proper to beget Valour and Strength.

The third way of Communication to be try'd, is by removing the Plants and the Productions of the same Country from one part of it into another; and by practising every where all the sorts of Husbandry, which are us'd in some Places with Success. That this is not enough perfected even in England, is manifest to every one that beholds the Kentish Orchards, and the Herefordshire Hedges; which seem to upbraid the laziness of other Countries, whose High-ways are only fenc'd with Thorns and Briars, or at the best with Hazel; while theirs are beautify'd with Apples, Pears, and Cherries.

Now then, in every one of these Transplantations, the chief Progress that has hitherto been made, has been rather for the Collection of Curiosities to adorn Cabinets and Gardens, than for the Solidity of Philosophical Discoveries: Yet there may be a prodigious Advantage made in them all, both for the one end and Rh