418 Botanical Notices from Spain. 



ders more striking a pretty widely-spread wood of slender trees of 

 Finns Piiiea, L., lying between La ^linaya and El Provencio, near the 

 Venta del Pinal. Generally speaking, the country is somewhat better 

 from hence, as the laud is elevated in low hills, between which occur 

 here and there little isolated woods of Quercus Ilex, L., and dwarf 

 plantations of olives. Beyond Ocana the soil is dreadfully sterile, 

 but on ascending an eminence, you suddenly discover the broad green 

 valley where flows the Tagus, filled with a forest of trees, with the 

 domes and towers of the palace of Aranjuez rising from among them. 

 I was prevented by want of time from halting then in this paradise, 

 and an hour later I found myself already on the arid shores of the 

 nearly waterless Manzanares, glad to have crossed the comfortless 

 upland plain of New Castile. 



Interesting as the neighbourhood of the capital may be in spring 

 in a botanical point of view, it offers little in the summer months, 

 and I had not time to visit the Sierra de Guadarrama, though lying 

 quite near, and rich in plants. I confined myself therefore during 

 mv fortnight's stay in ]\ludrid to making myself acquainted with 

 the scientific institutions of the Spanish capital, where the many 

 recommendations I had obtained to the most distinguished men 

 in all branches of natural science gave me the best opportunities. 

 Now that I dare permit myself to give an opinion on the present 

 condition of natural science in Spain, I can, alas I only say, that the 

 Spaniards, notwithstanding the numerous splendid collections of 

 all kinds, in every branch of natural science, the practical parts of 

 medicine included, are still very far behind the other civilized nations 

 of Europe. This is not merely owing to the small assistance ren- 

 dered by the government, but to the exceeding indiiference of Spa- 

 niards to all that relates to science in general. This unhappy country 

 has come to such a pass, through the incessant civil wars, that no 

 one will interest himself in anything but politics. 



With regard to botany, I devoted my attention particularly to the 

 botanical garden, which was open to me at all times, through the 

 kindness of the director. Prof. D. Jose Demeiro Rodriguez. This 

 extensive and well-kept garden, situated on the magnificent prome- 

 nade of the Prado, was the first real botanical garden I saw in Spain. 

 It has existed in this place and in this condition since the reign of 

 Charles the Third, the king to whom Spain owes all her scientific 

 and artistic institutions; it was establislaed here in the year 17S1. 

 The first director of it was, if I mistake not, D. Casimir Gomez Or- 

 tega, who was followed b}' D. Antonio Jose Cavanilles, from whom the 

 garden came into the charge of his pupils, D. Mariano Lagasca and 

 the present director Rodriguez, a man whose well-known name is a 

 guarantee that it is in no unworthy hands. The plants, the number 

 of which is imknown to me, as no catalogue exists, are arranged ac- 

 cording to the Linnsean system and provided with elegant labels, on 

 which are inscribed both the Latin and Castilian names. The gar- 

 den, which is remarkably large, and is open daily to the public at 

 the time of the promenade, possesses many well-arranged plant- 

 houses, and an orchis-house has lately been built. Very few ferns 



