100 THE CLASSICAL PLANTS OF SICILY. 
Although Dr. Sibthorp has already thrown considerable light 
on the subject, yet much more is required to be done; and I 
wish that future travellers in Greece would pay particular 
attention to this interesting topic. 
Few islands in Europe possess a more choice and beauti- 
ful collection of plants than Sicily; its Flora, from the situa- 
tion of the island,* contains species which are common to 
Italy, Illyria, Dalmatia, the south of France, Corsica, Sar- 
dinia, the Balearic Isles, Spain, Portugal, Madeira, the 
North of Africa, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, Tartarian Cau- 
casus, Greece, the Islands of the Archipelago, and the 
Ionian Isles. There are many, also, which are natives of 
Britain, and of the more northern parts of Europe. 
Vegetation being naturally quick, by the effect of a power- 
ful sun, if justice were done to the land, and a skilful system 
practised in husbandry and gardening, we might almost 
ascribe to it the words of Hesiod. (Op. et dies. v. 172.) 
puehamén, nagady 
Teig rsog OhAAovra Peper Zeidweos pougu. 
Sicily, in a botanical point of view, far exceeds most 
countries in Europe, in the number and beauty of its native 
flowers; many species I had only before seen cultivated in 
gardens, and was charmed at finding them growing wild and 
in abundance. In consequence of the warm genial climate, 
some plants produce a succession of blossoms the whole year; 
therefore, the following description of the famous meadows 
of Enna, may, perhaps, not improperly be applied to the 
Flora of the island ;—ré ò ta, xaJ s&v Gru driv rà aos uva 
v4v éywoiav, ragabsSa¢ Ò trou roti euaured mapamévew OdrArovrU, xad THY 
dAn meisou dvOngdy xal emiregan rageydueve.—( Diodorus Sic. Bib. 
Hist. lib. v. cap. 3.)—And in conclusion, I will only add the 
words of Cicero, which he used in describing the same lovely 
spot. * Sunt plurimi et letissimi flores omni tempore anni.” 
— 
* For a brief account of the Geography, Geology, and Vegetation of 
Sicily, by the Author, sce Zoudon's Magazine of Natural History, vol. ii^ 
pp.105—116, 
