Frevck National Institute. 277 



v.ergne, by M. Lecoq, commissioner of gunpowder. Hi- 

 therto it has been found only in Saxony. 



Botany continues to be enriched with an increasing num- 

 ber of new species. The superb work on iheJardin de Mal- 

 maiso?/, by M. Ventenat j the Flora of the Oivare of Benin, 

 by M. de Beauvois ; that of the Isles d-e France et de Bour- 

 Ion, by M. -du Petit Thouars ; that of New Holland, by 

 M. de Beliardiere, are prosecuted with success. Messrs. 

 de Humboldt and Bonpland have published the first number 

 of that of South America. 



M. Desfontaines has published a catalogue of all the ve- 

 getables in the Jardin des Plantes ; a valuable work, not 

 only for those who frequent that celebrated school, but also 

 for all botanists. M. Broussonet has also given that of the 

 Jardin de MontpeUier. 



Botany for a long time has been accustomed to honour 

 those who cultivate and patronize it, bv giving their names 

 to the new genera it discovers ; and experience has proved 

 that such monuments are the most durable of all. 



No person deserved this honour more than the empress, 

 who takes so much pleasure in that agreeable science, and 

 v/ho promotes its progress so much." The Spanish bota- 

 nists, Messrs. Ruiz and Pavon, had already paid h^r this 

 honour by giving the name of her family to a beautiful 

 plant of South America. 



M. Ventenat, charged by her majesty with making 

 known to the public all the new species of the garden of 

 Malmaison, has consecrated to her a second, the Josephina, 

 originally from New Holland, and near a-kin to the digi- 

 talia s.m\ the pedalia. The elevation of its stem and the 

 beauty of its dowers will make it be cultivated in pleasure- 

 gai'dens. 



M. dc Beauvois has dedicated to the emperor Napoleon a 

 tree of the country of Oware, in Africa, distinguished by 

 its splendour, and the size and singularity of its flower. 



_M.de Humboldt during his travels enriched the natural 

 history of plants with general and very new considerations: 

 he has traced out a sort of geography of them, in which he 

 determines the limits of each species in latitude and in ver- 

 tical height : it is the temperature which stops them in both 

 directions ; but as the degrees which suit each are different, 

 they extend more in breadth, or rise higher, on the moun- 

 tains, according to this difference; which may serve as a sure 

 guide to agriculture in the choice of the plants which it 

 destines to each position. 



This indefatigable traveller has enriched no less the his- 

 S 3 lory 



