Gardening and Botany of Spain. Q^ 



insertion. I must, therefore, omit mentioning the many 

 varieties of ^rassica, iepidium, Cochlear ia, iactuca, Cicho- 

 rium, Cynara, Zragopogon, Scorzonera, Chondrilla, ^'IHum, 

 ^eta, Spinacia, Chenopodium, i?orago, ^olanum tuberosum, 

 peruvianum, and insanum ; capsicums, radishes, celery, 

 pompions, melons, water-melons, carrots, parsneps, cucum- 

 bers, parsley, coriander, fennel, mint, sorrel, French beans, 

 peas, and beans. But, of all the vegetables reared at Aran- 

 juez, none exceeds the asparagus for size and high flavour. 



The fruits are strawberries, pears, apples, peaches, apricots, 

 plums, medlars, azaroles, mulberries, quinces, figs, and 

 gooseberries. 



It may also be mentioned, that, previously to the year 1808, 

 indigo had been cultivated here with great success. 



The gardens and plantations of this royal residence, several 

 times the scene of battle during the struggle for independence, 

 suffered considerable damage ; to which may be added, the 

 fatal event of the premature death of the assistant gardener, 

 Don Estaban Boutelon, an enlightened man, endowed with a 

 superior genius, and extraordinary diligence ; who, after 

 having improved himself by visiting France, Holland, and 

 England, returned to his native country, where he devoted 

 himself to the study of the cultivation of plants with great 

 earnestness and success, and who may be said to have been 

 the soul of every thing done there, rather than his father Don 

 Pablo, who was chief gardener. After the conclusion of 

 the war, however, these gardens and plantations, particularly 

 the orchards, were repaired and improved: but it is to be 

 feared they will retrograde ; because, since the death of Don 

 Pablo, which happened in 1818, the direction is in the hands 

 of his grandson, who, however well disposed, is too young 

 and inexperienced for the duties of his situation. 



The king has also in the vicinity of Madrid a royal 

 country house ; a place of about two leagues in length, and 

 the same in breadth, surrounded by high walls, where, besides 

 several woods, arable land, a few plantations and nurseries of 

 fruit and forest trees, there is a great basin of spring water, 

 and some symmetrical parterres, adorned with statues and 

 fountains. 



The Moncloa, surrounded also by walls, is situated on un- 

 even ground. Half of it is devoted to the cultivation of 

 fruit and culinary plants, and the other half to pleasure- 

 ground, which is pardy symmetrical, and partly Chinese. 



The Prado, a much more extensive place than the royal 

 country house, and kept during the two last reigns as a chase, 

 contains also some pleasure-ground, though not extensive* 



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