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[Page 26]

5.

Vegetabilia quæ sub eodem Corlo et in eodem Solo reperiuntur eodem ratione coli possunt.A  For the Truth of this Maxim we have the authority of Linnæus, and of all this discoveries that have been made in Vegetation.

From the sameness of Climate which prevails over the whole Torrid Zone, it is therefore reasonable to conclude that the Plants which are Natives of any part of it, will vegetate with equal Vigour so far as depends upon Climate, in any of its other parts however remote, whether in Asia, Africa or America.

That Tract of the Globe which possesses this distinguishing Character  " that the freezing Degree of Cold never takes place in it".  From this circumstance, beside other material Effects in Vegetation, one remarkable consequence arises, " that in this Region the Trees continue perpetually verdant".  Among the immense number of Trees which belong to it, I find but two: one in the West and another in the East Indies,B  which are at any time, wholly divested  of their Leaves.   We must go beyond the Tropick, before we can meet with any number of the Perdifols, and their number increases according as we recede from it.

Within the Tropicks, the Seasons are every where punctual and well defined.  The Weather is more constant than in any other part of the Earth, and even its vicissitudes, are more regular and uniform.  The general Trade Wind creates a great uniformity of Climate, over all the Torrid Zone, and the Sea and Land Breezes which are common to all its Islands, are the most constant of Winds.  These circumstances with the equality of the Days and Nights, and the peculiar


A.  Linn. Amoen. Acad. Vol. 4. p. 215
B.  Rumphius Herb. Amboin. Vol. 3. T. 104
 
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