CULTIVATED PLANTS. 181 



seventeenth century, a considerable number of South American 

 plants were introduced into Italian gardens either direct from 

 Brazil, Mexico, or Peru, or through the Spaniards. Among those 

 which speedily became generally cultivated, we may mention 

 the Sunflower (Helianthus annuus), from Mexico or Peru ; the 

 Nasturtium (Tropseolum majus), the Marvel of Peru (Mirabilis 

 Jalapa), and the QuamocUt (Ipomcea Quamoclit),from Peru; and the 

 Passiouflou-er (Passiflora cserulea), from Brazil. Dahlias, from 

 Mexico, and Fuchsias, from Peru, were not imported till the close 

 of the eighteenth century. The East Indian Chrysanthemums, the 

 Japanese Hydrangeas, and the Cape Pelargoniums, all well- 

 established in Italian gardens, were brought there from England 

 or France at the close of the last or the commencement of the 

 present century. 



Having thus passed in review the long list of plants generally 

 cultivated in Tuscany, whose history is investigated by Professor 

 Targioni-Tozzetti, it remains for us to express our regret that our 

 limited space has prevented our entering into numerous interesting 

 details, for which we must refer to the work itself, as well as for 

 the authorities upon which they are founded, which are carefully 

 given on every occasion. They show a vast amount of patient 

 research, and supply a body of facts and references which it will 

 be necessary for every one to consult who interests himself in this 

 branch of botanical history and geography. We must also express 

 our obligations to the several botanists recently returned from 

 long and active explorations of Northern and Western India, whose 

 important observations and enlightened views have materially 

 assisted us in the investigation of the wild types of cultivated 

 species of real or supposed Asiatic origin. 



By some transposition of words at page 137 of this Vol. we 

 are made to say, that the sugar-cane was brought from the West 

 Indies in the time of the Saracens. It was introduced both to 

 the West Indies and to Southern Europe frqm Asia. 



