220 Natural History of Plants. 



Lake of Lugano. On the higher Alps, the turf was a perfect 

 carpet of flowers ; in some places white with the Parnassia and 

 i?anunculus glacialis intermixed, in others of a dazzling blue, 

 with the flowers of the dwarf species of gentian, which grows 

 there in such abundance, that an ardent spirit, resembling 

 whiskey is extracted from the roots, and sold under the 

 name of Kirschewasser. I saw some noble stems of Gentiawa 

 liitea and purpurea scattered about the moist hollows, but 

 they were out of flower. Li confirmation of the accounts you 

 have extracted from the Scotch newspapers, of the luxuriant 

 growth of the Hydrangea hortensis, I may add, that I saw a 

 specimen, of the blue variety, of fully equal dimensions, in the 

 gardens of the Villa Melzi, on the Lake of Como, near Bella- 

 gio, one of the most elegant residences that adorn that cele* 

 brated scene; and among the exotic collection, which was 

 extensive and in excellent order, I observed several plants 

 flowering in the open air, which are usually considered inha- 

 bitants of the stove with us ; among others, I recollect Lager- 

 stroe^mza indica. 



Li a garden on the hill behind Bellagio, which commands a 

 view of the three branches of the lake, I saw Aloysm citrio- 

 dora growing in the shrubbery, as large as the Persian lilac, 

 and with a stem the thickness of a man's leg. One of the 

 walks was also covered, from one end to the other, by the 

 Bignonza radicans, then in full flower. On the Isola Bella I 

 saw a sweet bay [on which General Bonaparte, when return- 

 from Lodi, had cut his initials], said to be the tallest in 

 Europe; it was feathered with branches, like the Lombardy 

 poplar, and was as tall as an ordinary tree of that kind. To 

 these reminiscences of my own, I may add, from Williams's 

 Six Months in Jamaica, that Plumier/a alba grows on rocks 

 overhanging the sea, where it attracted that gentleman's 

 notice by the fragrance which it diffused, and the singular 

 tortuous form of its branches ; and I was gratified to find, in 

 a late spirited anonymous work on Portugal, that our poetical 

 favourite, the moss rose, gi'ows wild in abundance in the 

 hedges near Bucellas. 



Recommending this subject to your notice, as worthy to 

 form a prominent feature in your interesting Magazine, and 

 hoping that it will be taken up by those whose observation 

 has been more extended than that of the writer, 



I remain, Sir, yours, &c. 

 April le. 1828. B. 



