366 Proceedings of the 



by the presence of man. Every year these natural pasture lands are 

 set on fire to procure the cattle a fresher grass, and it is evident that 

 a numher of annual species must have been destroyed in their vege- 

 tation by these repeated conflagrations. A single burning is even 

 sufficient to modify, in a most singular manner, the plants already 

 existing. Scarcely has the grass of a campo naturel been consumed 

 before dwarf plants are seen to appear here and there among the 

 ashes ; these plants are merely abortions of species naturally much 

 larger, and intended to blossom at a different period of the year. 

 The most trifling labours of man have an effect on the vegetation, 

 and in some deserts even the halting-place of the traveller is marked 

 by the appearance of particular plants. The nature of the super- 

 ficial bed of the soil, no doubt, influences the details of vegetation in 

 these provinces, but that cannot occasion the existence of woods on 

 the east of the great chain, and of pasture lands on the west. In 

 the forest regions, the hills are very high, and are terminated by 

 ridges ; deep and narrow valleys separate these hills, which 

 shade each other reciprocally ; the effect of the wind is not felt in 

 this country, and the numerous brooks by which it is watered contri- 

 bute to develop its vegetation. When, on the contrary, the country 

 is only undulated, and there is nothing to impede the course of the 

 winds, when the earth is not refreshed by brooks, it is impossible 

 that the vegetation can be vigorous, however good the soil may be 

 naturally. 



Goethe a Botanist. Among the works presented to the Aca- 

 demy on the 25th of July, was an Essay on the Analogies and 

 Metamorphoses of Plants, by Goethe. In handing this work to the 

 Secretary, M. Gdoffroy St. Hilaire stated that he was instructed by 

 the author to present to the Academy the only copy in Paris, to 

 which, in order to show his respect and esteem for the Society, he 

 (Goethe) had caused a French translation to be annexed. The 

 name of Goethe, so eminent in the world of fiction, is but little 

 known to the public as connected with scientific researches ; and 

 M. St. Hilaire therefore deemed it expedient to accompany the work 

 with a few observations on its nature and contents. One-third of 

 the volume consists of a reprint of the aphorisms published by the 

 author in 1790, under the title of ' Essai sur la Metamorphose des 

 Plantes.' This work was disregarded at the time, and Goethe 

 was censured for having published it ; but his only fault was, that 

 he outstripped the age in which he lived, and published a work 

 on plants half a century before there were any botanists who could 

 read or understand it. The second part of the work is composed of 

 additions to, and comments on, the first part ; and the author there 

 takes occasion to vindicate his claim to a place in the scientific 

 world, by proving that great part of his existence has been devoted 

 with passion and energy to the study of nature ; and that he, there- 

 fore, is not to be considered merely as a philosopher wholly occupied 



