400 Natural History hi Scotland, 



of our riches in this department to almost every part of the globe), the 

 number of species and distinct varieties was estimated at upwards of 8000. 

 To these have lately been added little short of 3000 more ; and these, too, 

 as might be sup])osed, are, in general, vegetable productions of the greatest 

 novelty and rarity, so that it may again be repeated with confidence, that, 

 in point of number of species, which forms the distinguishing character of a 

 real botanic garden, no one in this kingdom, or perhaps in Europe, can be 

 compared with it. The erection of the new, and, from the way in which 

 it is stocked with plants, highly ornamental house, at the western extremity 

 of the great range, has enabled the larger individuals to be so arranged, as 

 to afford them greater freedom in their growth, and to allow of their being 

 seen to much more advantage. This will especially be observed upon the 

 slightest inspection of the palms, those nobles of the vegetable kingdom, 

 as Linnaeus so happily called them, many of which are already beginning 

 to wear that aspect of grace and beauty which eminently characterises 

 their form in their native climes. In the same house (the great stove), 

 the banana or plantain tree may again be expected, as it did four years 

 ago, to bear its flowers and its fruit, and to bring the latter to perfection. 

 T'he papaw tree, so remarkable for the property which its juices possess 

 of rendering old and tough meat tender in a short space of time, if but 

 slightly washed with it, nay, even of producing the same effect upon the 

 flesh of old animals that feed on it, whether hogs or poultry ; this tree, 

 having room to flourish, now has several fine fruits upon it, which are 

 rapidly advancing to maturity. Though not belonging to the palm tribe, 

 yet, like them, the papaw tree rises with a tall and slender stem, bearing a 

 tuft of leaves at the top, and the fruit and flowers immediately beneath. 

 Similar in general growth to these are the tree ferns, yet of such rarity, 

 that we know of no collection in Europe where there is a single living indi- 

 vidual ; but, during the course of the last year, we had the good fortune to 

 receive no less than three healthy young plants, through the liberality of 

 His Excellency General Walker, from St. Helena ; whilst a fourth, of the 

 same kind, but a different species from those now mentioned, has been 

 brought to us by Captain Farmer, from Mr. Eraser, of New Holland. We 

 have valuable correspondents at Trinidad, who may be said to replace the 

 loss we sustained in the death of the Baron de Schack. His Excellency 

 Sir Ralph Woodford, and the able botanic gardener there, have communi- 

 cated many plants, but none more valuable than tne nutmeg, the first that 

 ever came alive to this country, the Jack tree, and the mangosteen. For 

 their security during the voyage we are indebted to Messrs. Eccles, of this 

 city, who have shown a most liberal and unvarying attention to the interests 

 of the institution. The famous arracacha of South America, in which 

 country its prolific roots hold the place of the potato, and are equally nu- 

 tritive, has been again sent to us, with other rarities, especially some young 

 mangoes, by Dr. Bancroft, Dr. M'Fadyen, and Mr. R. Smith, of Jamaica. 

 To John Pearson, Esq., of Demerara, we are indebted for some curious 

 plants of the Indian kale; to Thomas M'Gill, Esq., of Glasgow, and his 

 brother. Captain M'Gill, for many East Indian productions ; to the late 

 lamented General Turner, for several vegetables of Sierra Leone ; to Mr. 

 Elliot, of South Carolina, for a numerous collection of plants from that 

 rich country. Our noble cactuses, or Turk's-ca{) torch thistle, the envy of 

 every garden in Europe, are all the valued present of Captain M'Arthur, of 

 the Everthorpe; the curious Tamus elephantipes, or Elephant's foot, of 

 R. Finlay, Esq., from the Cape. Amongst the fir tribe we possess the fa- 

 mous Norfolk Island pine, procured by Mr. Eraser, government botanist at 

 New Holland, and brought to us, with many other plants from that country, 

 by Sir Thomas Brisbane ; the Chilian pine, from Mr. Cruickshanks ; and 

 the Brazilian pine. These, in their native soil, are reckoned amongst the 

 tallest and most remarkable trees in the world. The bread-fruit may here 



