412 



Botanic Ga/de?i at Lisbon. 



considering it as the art of cultivating culinary fruits and 

 vegetables, we consider Germany and America preferable 

 to England, because more may done in the open air in those 

 countries, than in England, and as much by protection, 

 by forcing, and by artificial climates. — Co7id. 



Art. X. Some Account of the Botanic Garden at Lisbon. By 

 W. Churchill, Esq., Royal Marines. 



Portugal, adapted by nature for easy culture of the vege- 

 table productions of the torrid and temperate zones, the first 

 coloniser of India, till within a few years mistress of Brazil, 

 and still retaining extensive African possessions, has never 

 stood forward as the patroness of botany. Unlike Spain, who 

 under every disadvantage has laboured hard for the science, 

 she can boast of but few individuals, who, incited either by a 

 laudable curiosity or more enlightened views, have availed 

 themselves of her natural advantages, to introduce those bo- 

 tanic treasures to which for nearly three centuries there has 

 been access ; though, like her, the ignorance, inappetence, and 

 poverty of her legislation, have for years been formidable im- 

 pediments to the advance of science. 



The Royal Botanic Garden at Lisbon is situated on the 

 side of a hill (j^. 82.), sloping with a considerable declivity 



to the Tagus, a little below the Palace of Ajuda, and enjoys 

 a full exposure to the south. It covers a space of about two 

 acres, surrounded by a high wall, round which on the inside 

 and up the centre is a shady walk of iaurus nobilis, Cercis 

 (Siliquastrum, Ceratonia siliqua, and Jiuglans regia. The south 

 wall has in front a wide terrace, on which the botanic houses 

 are built ; descending from these by steps you arrive at the plea- 

 sure-garden, as it is termed, which, together with the terrace. 



