Botanic Garden of Madrid. 241 



most of which the rays of the sun can hardly penetrate; its situa- 

 tion on a gentle slope, which permits the whole to be seen at 

 a glance ; the great variety of trees, shrubs, and plants with 

 which its walks are lined, each bearing a ticket in Spanish with 

 its systematic name ; the creeping plants which twine round 

 many of the trees ; the multitude of flowers which in the spring 

 display their brilliant hues, and till the air with their aromatic 

 perfumes ; the gentle murmur of the waters that run through 

 the trenches, or are poured forth by the fountains ; — all these, 

 united to the harmonious songs of a variety of singing-birds, 

 which have fixed their abode in the thickets, give to the bo- 

 tanical garden of Madrid a decided superiority over the other 

 pleasure-grounds of that city, where the climate during the 

 summer is excessively hot. 



The garden is open to the public from the last day of the 

 month of May to the last day of October, and from half-past 

 four in the afternoon till dusk. All persons decently dressed 

 are admitted, and it is very much frequented by the higher 

 classes, and the royal family. In the morning, those only are 

 admitted who are well known, and those who have a ticket of 

 admission from one of the professors. The foreign ambas- 

 sadors may go in with their families at any hour they please, 

 and at all seasons, as well as any traveller who arrives at the 

 capital, and who, if he be himself a professor or an amateur, 

 is attended in his visit by one of the professors of the esta- 

 blishment, who presents him with a specimen of every living 

 plant he may wish for, and, in case of the professor's absence, 

 he is attended by one of the most intelligent gardeners. The 

 students who choose to repair there are admitted at all hours. 



The other smaller division of the garden, of which 

 mention has been made, is situated to the south-east, and 

 may also be divided into upper and lower parts. The 

 latter is a prolongation of the inferior plot, extending over 

 four or five fanegadas of ground, and separated from the 

 rest of the garden by a fence formed of the common shrubs, 

 hare's-ear, white-thorn, common privet, syringa, and com- 

 mon lilac. Two thirds of it form a single division, 

 which is irregularly divided into smaller ones by means of 

 winding walks, in the style of those in the English gardens. 

 It is used also for rearing fruit trees, and as a depot for the 

 residue of plants which serve for the demonstrations, and for 

 the medicinal herbs, which are given gratis to the public. 

 The remaining third part, on which formerly stood the lec- 

 turing-hall, is used now as a kitchen- garden, in which are 

 cultivated in small portions various kinds of vegetables, such 



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