Italy, Portugal, Holland and the Netherlands. 95 



compensated by the beautiful scenery into which the travelling botanist is 

 sure to be transported ; by the impressions (almost never to be effaced) which 

 the very circumstance of his discovering and gathering such and such a 

 plant in a state of nature are sure to make upon him ; and by the gratifi- 

 cation in prospect of distributing to persons of a kindred mind with himself 

 those vegetables, from the acquisition of which he has already derived so 

 much pleasure." {Brewster's Ed. Jour, of Science, July, 1827, p. 24.) 



ITALY. 



At a recent meeting of the Academy of the Georgifli, at Florence, Dr. 

 Guishi read an interesting memoir on the propriety of applying the prin- 

 ciple of freedom adopted in the profession of the liberal arts to some others, 

 and particularly to the profession of the law. A memoir was also read on 

 the necessity of giving females an education suited to their condition, and 

 conformable to the diffusion of knowledge. (For. Quar. Rev. July, 1827.) 



The Ornithogalum, roasted as they do chestnuts, is eaten by the Italians, 

 the wild yellow especially, with oil, vinegar, and pepper ; and the small 

 tuberous roots of Gramen amygdalosum (Cyperus escule'ntus ?), which 

 they also roast, and use in broth as a great restorative. (Evelyn.) 



PORTUGAL. 



The country south of the Tagus is, with the exception of that part of it 

 nearest the river, chiefly covered with oak and cork trees ; and the under- 

 wood, for many leagues together, is composed of the gum-cistus. It is with 

 this shrub that the bakers at Estremos, and throughout the Alemtejo, heat 

 their ovens ; and the smell of it, which every where prevails, is truly de- 

 lightful ; although to some strangers it is at first very overpowering. 



Apples I never saw of so large a size, or of such excellent flavour, as 

 those of Montemor o Novo in the Alemtejo. This town is remarkable for 

 the immense quantities of apples and quinces which abound in the whole 

 of its neighbourhood, and of these fruit trees the hedges are formed, the 

 species of the former called bem postas are of deserved celebrity. 



Moss Roses. — A few leagues from Evora, in a north-west direction, is a 

 small village called Alcovas de Roses, from the quantities of beautiful moss 

 roses growing wild about its hedges in every direction. They are as numerous 

 as the blackberries in our own hedge-rows. (Extracted from Sketches 

 of Portugal, hy A. P. D. G., and sent us by Clericus, June 2.) 



HOLLAND AND THE NETHERLANDS. 



The Royal Society of Agriculture and Botany of Ghent held a meeting 

 on June 29th, and gave their prizes to the proprietors of the plants ex- 

 hibited to which they had been adjudged. " On this occasion we observed 

 a cypress, with inscriptions expressing the regret of the Society for the loss 

 it had sustained in the last twelve months by the death of M. M. Coninck 

 (formerly Minister of the Interior), M. Fermondt, and the Marquess of Hast- 

 ings (formerly Lord Moira). The Marchioness of Hastings has been for 

 some time at Ghent. She, doubtless, was ignorant that the late Governor 

 General of India had been a member of the Society, and one of the bene- 

 factors of the botanic garden, and the directors of the Society, on their 

 part, did not know that Her Ladyship was in the city. Going to the exhi- 

 bition with her family, she was much affected at seeing this expression of 

 the gratitude of the Society." (Brussels Paper, July 5.) 



The Botanic Garden of Brussels has lately been materially improved, and 

 several thousand species added to the collection. (Jour.d'Agr. duRoyaumc 

 des Pays Bas, Juin.) 



