The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-01-09

sIG FAEX
ootanlsts of our country, near thu
close OF the last. and the beginning Of
the present century, will serve 10 show
what a lively interest was taken in
America and Europe IL exploring the
charming, and extensive Flora of
North America and more particularly
That OF the Southern Sta. es.
Since hat pariod, many devotees
OF Botanical science have arisen in our
country, whose local or general inves-
legations have been valuable. But un-
douotedly, the most dill ent explorer
Of the botany of North Carolina. was
the late Rev. VI. A. Curtis. During
twenty or more years of his life. he
carefully investlga ed nearly every
county of the state. from the sea-
board to the Mountains, and formed
an extensive herbdrium of our native
Flora. A protracted correspondence,
frequent exchanges of plants, and
several per~onal visits, enable the
writer TO bear a willing testimony TO
his ability, pe%rsevering zeal, and
thorough eXplora ion of the botanical
richie of the State. In 1860 DR.. Ours
tbs published a pamphlet on the
" Noody Plants of North Carolina"
full OF useful information and, in
1867, a similar work, in connection
with the Geological. and Natural
history Survey. containing a Gaia
lOgue of the indigenous and natural
lied Plants of the State" This latter
work, embraces the scientific names of
four thousand fiyht hundred ant ffty
species. 1t is probable, of tne Phuen-
Ogdmous. or t~Io3roring Tidnts very
few have escaped notice, but to the
nss OF C,yptOgamic, or FIoUerless
Plants, considerable additions may be
made by future observers.
We may. therefore. safely
that the actual number Of plants in
digenous to North Carolina, after a
little more careful investigation. will
exceed flee thousand species. Truly,
a magnificent Flora, of which the
State may well feel proud, embracing
many rare and inIeres: ing plants,
from the lofty trees of the forest,
grand, picturesque, and attractive. as
outspread before us, to the humblest
flower, which charms US with its
beauty and fragrance; or the delicate
moss, which decks with a carpet of
green the revulet's bank-all Objects
of Creative wisdom, and performing
their respective functions in the
economy of nature.
The forests of North Ca Dina are re-
markable for their grandeur and varl-
ETY., and largely contribute to the MAJ
terial wealth and prosperity Of the
State. Trees are the highest types OF
vegetable life. and in all ages of the
world, have claimed, to a greater or
less extent, the ADM; alton aud foster
ing care of mankind. They beautify
the landscape Of nature outSpread be-
fore us, and constitute the chief
sources Of attraction in every display
of rural adornment. They charm us
with their shining foliage and odori-
ferrous flowers comfort us with their
refreshing shade during the sultry
heats of summer furnish us with
shelter, fuel, food, delicious fruits,
and lastly, without eXhaustjng the
enumeration) they eXcrC a marked
climatic and sanitary influence upon
their immediate vicinity. No Won
der, then, that Solomon, the first DO
tdnist, and wisest man we read of,
deeply impressed with the beauties of
nature around him, ''spake Of trees,
from the cedar tree that Is In Leban>
on, even unto the hyssop that spring
eth OUT OIL UlC WALL. Al1OIS IHC nv
mans, trees We're planted in rows and
masses TO guard against the diffusion
of malaria. The practice was enforced
by law. as reported by Cicero. LucoS
IN agris hdbintO) and recorded in their
tablets. Cdrriere, In a work on the
climate of Italy, says: ITO V the
fields, the edges of marshes, and the
whole extent of the soil with an album
dant vegetation, IS equal to placing on
the surface of unhealthy regions a re
paratlve apparatus OF the greatest
power. Lieutenant Maury believed
that a few rows Of sun>t1owers, plant
ed between the Washington Observa-
tory. and the marshy banks of the
Potomac. saved the inmates of that
establishment from the intermittent
fever to which they had been pre-
viou5ly liable.
1t would be we'll for our farmers,
residing neal low bottom or swamp
lands, and our larger cities and towns,
near maldriul localities, to derive a
suggestive, heal hy lesson from this ex-
pertinent.
1t is a well established fact, that the
climate of our country has undergone
a marked change in consequence OF
the destruction of the forests. The
character of the diseases have been
also altered, and sometime presented
under new and unmapageaDle types.
In the older States, we have many
denuded and almost ~treelesS farms and
districts, indicating the urgent pro-
priety of covering them over with
useful trees. in accordance with their
peculiar adaptation to soil and loca-
ton. Only brief notices can be here
given Of some of our most useful and
ornamental trees.
The Lire Oak, so highly priced IN
ship-building is a native Of the South
aru States 1t makes its first aDDPac>