LA MORTOLA. 



that the " Agrumi" are represented in the garden. In the part 

 specially devoted to them there is a large yield of the most 

 beautiful lemons. Besides the Bergamots and the Pomi d'Adamo 

 there is the Citrus myrtifolia in full bloom (figured in Et. Michel, 

 " Trait du Citronier," vii., Paris, 1816, tab. 4, Citrus Bigaradia 

 sinensis). It is remarkable for its small sharp-edged leaves with 

 numberless oil cells, which are particularly large towards the edge, 

 for its large, pure white, sweet-scented blossoms, and especially for 

 its fruit, only an inch and a half in diameter, called Chinotto. It 

 is preserved by the Paris confectioners, and goes by the name of 

 " Chinois." There is quite an array of shrubs, with stiff shining 

 leaves, such as the Pittosporum eugenioides, P. Tobira, and other 

 nearly allied species, Pimelea decussata, Coprosma Bauerianum 

 (one of the New Zealand Rubiacae), Laurocerasus, Camellia sou- 

 langiana, Osmanthus (Olea) fragrans, Buxus Balearica, Pistacia, 

 Laurus nobilis, and Oreodaphne californica, the latter, termed 

 Laurus regalis in Italian gardens, contains an oil, the effect of 

 which upon the eyes and nose may be compared to that of an 

 onion. 1 New Zealand, Australia, and Tasmania have contributed 

 the curious groups of Proteacese, viz., Dryandra floribunda, 

 Banksia marcescens, and other kinds : there are flourishing speci- 

 mens of Grevillea, and of Hakea, and of the New Zealand flax 

 Phormium tenax, all thriving well in the Antipodes of their native 

 land. There, too, we are delighted with the soft green of the Aralia 

 dactylifera, Strelitzia, and Musa, the rich leaves of the Acanthus, 

 and the fresh green of the Styrax officinalis, with its pretty white 

 blossoms shining out against the dark background of the Cupressus 

 macrocarpa ; while everywhere we are charmed with the dainty 

 forms and gay colours of the Cheiranthus mutabilis, a woody cru- 

 cifera from the Canary Islands, of Diplopappus filifera, D.filifor- 

 mis, Senecio prcecox, Cassine aculeata from Tasmania, and Shawia 

 paniculata from New Zealand. The five last are hard woody 

 composites, and present as curious an appearance to northern eyes 

 as do the beautiful sturdy bushes of Malva capensis, or the yellow 



1 " This fine evergreen and hardy tree is described by David Douglas as forming 

 the greater part of the forests of California, where it marks the transition between 

 the gloomy pine forests of North- West America and the tropical-like verdure of Cali- 

 fornia. He further states that it is a tree 30 to 100 feet high, with a trunk 2 to 17 feet 

 in circumference, smooth bark and spreading branches, and that the whole plant is so 

 strongly aromatic that even during violent hurricanes he has been obliged to remove 

 from under its shade, the odour, a most powerful camphor-like smell, being so pungent 

 as to produce violent sneezing." Bot. Mag.^ vol. Ixxxviii. pi. 5320. 



