during the Summer of 1837. 99 



and in the neighbourhood flows a small rivulet, the banks of 

 which are adorned by a very vigorous vegetation of iaurus no- 

 bilis, .Myrtus communis, Vkex A'gnus castus, Ceratonia Siliqua, 

 Melia Azederach, several rhamnuses, &c. These trees, both large 

 and small, are every where alternately intertwined with vines and 

 ^itex .4'gnus castus ; and, where the moisture does not reach, 

 an immense number of myrtles grow. Pistacia Z-entiscus also 

 grows there profusely; in short, one is agreeably surprised at the 

 great variety of brilliant foliage which abounds there. The 

 JVerium Oleander is particularly beautiful; it towers above the 

 other shrubs which surround it, and presents a flourishing bou- 

 quet throughout the year. 



These villages were formerly places of rural retreat for the 

 Turks, as they are now for the Greeks. I found every where 

 the remains of Turkish houses; which have been quite destroyed, 

 except the fountains, which are always shaded by some fine 

 planes, or horsechestnut trees (-^'sculiis Hippocastanum). I 

 have never seen these trees so well grown, or so perfect, as in the 

 neighbourhood of these fountains ; it appears as if Nature herself 

 chose to protect and shade those fountains which the Turks erect 

 wherever they can find a spring ; and near each is inscribed a 

 passage from the Koran, which invites the toil-worn traveller to 

 come and quench his thirst. 



This is all that can recall an idea of what horticulture was 

 in Attica, before the war against the Turks ; and while it con- 

 tinued nothing could be done. During my stay, however, I 

 had an opportunity of seeing that, under Bavarian influence, 

 the Greek government will bring the horticulture of this coun- 

 try to a high degree of perfection. Before the death of Capo 

 d'Istrias, a nursery had been formed near Nauplia, which was 

 then the capital ; but this nursery is now neglected. I saw the 

 greater part of the fruit trees which were sent to it from our 

 nurseries at Bollwyller, either dying or already dead, although 

 but recently neglected. At Athens, a new nursery had been 

 made, and, while the greatest care was bestowed on it, the 

 former w r as abandoned to neglect, and finally given up. 



The Athenian nursery is under the direction of Dr. Fraas of 

 Wiirzburg, a young man who devotes himself with ardour to 

 the labours and cares which his charge naturally brings along 

 with it. The place which it occupies was formerly the garden 

 of a Turkish proprietor, but the king bought one part of it, 

 and the government the other. 



Hitherto only such trees and shrubs as were most wanted in 

 the country have been planted in the government part of this 

 garden. In the part belonging to the king, such culinary vege- 

 tables are cultivated as the country does not produce naturally ; 

 such as cabbages, asparagus, salads, peas, kidneybeans, &c. 



h 2 



