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his plantation at Petite Riviére, where, by means of great 
skill and perseverance, he has succeeded in making many 
ingenious experiments, and obtained Mangoes and other 
fruits of a very superior quality. 
M. L. Bouton, in a Memoir, bearing for title, Observations 
on the Distribution of the Natural Families of Plants in the 
Island of Mauritius, has enumerated those which inhabit the 
summit of the mountains, those which are found on the sea 
shore, and in different heights and situations. It would ap- 
pear, according to our colleague’s observations, that the 
Rubiacee, Euphorbiacee, Convolvulacee, Malvacee, Bytineri- 
acee, Sapindacee, Meliacee, Orchidee, Graminee, Cyperacee, 
and the Ferns, constitute the mass of the vegetation of the 
Mauritius; and that the other natural families only present 
a very limited number of species. The Orchidee and the 
Ferns generally inhabit the elevated and damp spots, grow- 
ing under the shade of forests, and they are found at an ele- 
vation even of 400 toises (2400 feet). The Convolvulacee, 
on the contrary, seem to affect the shores and vicinity of the 
sea, and are not frequently seen on the high mountains. The 
Synantheree, of which the number of species is very limited, 
only exhibit a few small annual plants that are scattered upon 
the plains. Some few Gnaphalia, Eupatoria, Psiadie and 
Conyze, spring up in the forests, and are seen on the heights. 
It is remarkable that the shrubby Synantheree commonly pre- 
fer the elevated situations, while the herbaceous and annual 
ones are confined to the valleys. 
Our former compatriot, Cossigny, author of several works, 
and an accurate observer, has pointed out, some time ago, 4 
male Papaw tree (Carica Papaya, L.), which had borne 
fruit, and which Commerson had observed on his estate of 
Palma. Quite recently, M. Bouton presented to the Society 
some Papaws, produced by a male tree; and he has imparted 
some curious details on the subject, and extended his remarks 
to the whole genus Carica, which different botanists, at differ- 
ent periods, have placed in various families, _ 
Finally, M. Bouton read, at the last meeting, a déscrip- 
tion of two plants, which he found in several spots of our 
e 
