Naples. 209 



ture, which can only flourish when the middle, as well as the 

 wealthier classes, cultivate a taste for it, and do all in their 

 power to promote its advancement. There is, at Rome, a 

 Botanic Garden, but it scarcely merits the name. It is very 

 small, and contains only a few plants which are to be found 

 in almost every garden and greenhouse. 



In Naples, a city of over 350,000 inhabitants, there is but 

 little more taste for horticulture than in Rome, although it pos- 

 sesses a very good Botanic Garden, and several beautiful vil- 

 las in the natural style. They cultivate every plant and vege- 

 table as their fathers have done before them, and the word 

 improvement is scarcely known in their language. This is 

 not owing to the want of men of horticultural taste and know- 

 ledge, for there are such; but it is for want of some medium 

 of conveying to others the benefits of their researches and dis- 

 coveries. They want the advantages of association, than 

 which there is no more effectual means of improvement. 

 This state of things was much lamented by M. Tenore, with 

 whom I had some conversation on the subject. He is the di- 

 rector of the Botanic Garden, and an intelligent lover of hor- 

 ticulture. During the French rule, he obtained permission 

 to establish this garden, and, being encouraged by the gov- 

 ernment, was successful in his efforts. It began to excite in- 

 terest, and he has had, at various times, classes of pupils, 

 who have unfortunately not imbibed any great taste for his 

 favorite science. It is much to be regretted that the present 

 government does not encourage this establishment, which is 

 now suffering for want of funds, and is obliged to make sale, 

 and export the produce of its grounds. During the season, it 

 forms a public promenade, and contains many plants and 

 trees, which, although exotic with us, attain here a large size. 

 I much admired a fine i26sa Banksia, with a stem six inches 

 in diameter, and dividing into a dozen branches 50 feet or 

 more long. When in bloom, its numerous small white flow- 

 ers must have a beautiful effect. 



There were many fine specimens of ornamental trees, many 

 of them rare. I noticed a Pinus brutia, 70 feet high ; Mag- 

 nolia grandiflora, 40 feet; Ackcia. julibrissm, 40 feet; Erica, 

 10 feet ; (many of these are indigenous to Naples) ; ^Sfchinus 

 mollis, 45 feet ; Oupressus pendula, 50 feet, and very beauti- 



VOL. XI. NO. VI. 27 



