146 ON THE VEGETATION OF THE RIVIERA. 



in any other with which I am acquainted. The climate of the lit- 

 toral parts of Provence and of Liguria is, indeed, eminently suited 

 to the requirements of Australian trees and shrubs ; and the 

 gardens abound in Australian Myrtacece, Proteacece, and Mimosece. 



The number of exotic plants met with in many of the gardens 

 gives these a special interest ; and when to his general appreciation 

 of horticulture the proprietor adds a scientific knowledge the 

 result possesses a value which may in vain be sought for in coun- 

 tries where the defects of climate have to be compensated for by 

 artificial protection. 



The garden at Antibes, which had belonged to our late distin- 

 guished and lamented Foreign Member, M. Thuret, affords an 

 example of what might be done by a scientific botanist in a climate 

 like that of the Riviera ; for there the plants of more southern 

 latitudes find conditions suited to their perfect development, 

 and offer admirable subjects for scientific study. In his garden 

 near Mentone, Dr. Henry Bennett has brought together many 

 species from more southern countries, and has covered the parched 

 and rugged cliffs with a flourishing exotic vegetation. But it is 

 at Mortola, between Mentone and Ventimiglia, in the gardens of 

 the Palazzo Orengo, belonging to our Fellow, Mr. Thomas. 

 Hanbury, that may be found realized the most perfect combina- 

 tion of the native flora and natural beauty of this wonderful coast 

 with an exotic vegetation which only scientific knowledge and 

 appreciative skill could have succeeded in bringing together. 



The gardens of the Palazzo Orengo are spread over the 

 southern slope of a hill and extend to the very shores of the sea ; 

 and the visitor meets at every step some unfamiliar form of vege- 

 tation, as he sees mingled with the beautiful flora of the Eiviera 

 the plants of Australia, of Southern and Central America, of 

 Northern, Western, and Southern Africa, and of China and 

 Japan, all growing with a freedom and a vigour which could 

 scarcely be surpassed in their native lands. 



I have thus attempted to sketch for you by a few broad outlines 

 some of the most striking features of the vegetation of a portion 

 of the Mediterranean shores, limited in its extent, but replete 

 with interest — a land where some of the most significant pheno- 

 mena of geographical distribution present themselves to the 

 botanist ; for though belonging to the European area, it exhibits 

 in its climate and in the southern character of its vegetation an 



