[97]

18

Ap 21

Atlantis

If those Botanists, who have especially & lately attended to subject, (which of course is probable) as A. Decandolle & J. Hooker & E. Forbes, then plants cannot be believed to have crossed, except on solid land, from continent to Madeira, from Australia to New Zealand, & if we are forced to give up continent, do multiple creations must be admitted. 1st about continents (I must say have been admitted in an unphilosophical spirit.)

But have the above great Botanists a right to express their opinion so sharply.— They did not, when they wrote,know in the least how long & which seeds cd survive salt-water — They did not know how long plants wd float, whether prior drying wd facilitate flotation They did not even know whether the seeds which do float habitually, can vegetate — They had not thought of earth enclosed in roots of trees — Nor had they reflected, (as far as I know) on manner in which seeds get on icebergs. They do not appear to be aware how long seeds remain in crops — They do not allude to whirlwind (yes Decandolle does) They do not seem to have reflected on earth adhering to feet & base of Barb of birds & how many seeds in earth.—