318 Historical Notice of 



Brenta. It occupies an area of 20,664*37 square metri. The 

 central part is enclosed and surrounded by a wall surmounted by a 

 cornice, on which there is an elegant stone balustrade. This part 

 is divided into many regular compartments edged with stone, and 

 protected by iron rails. The area of these compartments is 

 also subdivided into beds, divided from each other by means of 

 borders of violets. Each bed contains only one species of 

 plants, which by this means are more easily taken care of and 

 cultivated. One of the four large compartments is allotted to 

 the growth of medicinal plants which can grow in the open 

 air, and which serve for the instruction of the pupils in medi- 

 cine. Four large walks intersect the part just described, in the 

 form of a cross ; at the end of each there is an entrance gate, 

 furnished with colossal pilasters, ornamented at top by an 

 Etruscan vase of stone, containing the figure of a plant (gene- 

 rally an agave) of iron painted green, and closed by massive 

 and elegant iron rails with bronze ornaments. Twelve foun- 

 tains play in this enclosure. Besides these, there are also two 

 large reservoirs for aquatic plants. 



Southward lies the grove, or arboretum, of the garden, which, 

 although almost destroyed by the memorable hail in 1834, has 

 still some trees remaining, which, by their girt and height, 

 attest the antiquity of this establishment. For example, a P\k- 

 tanus orientalis 21*78 metri (a metro is 39*3 in.) in height, and 

 2*25 metri in diameter, which, according to tradition, is coeval 

 with the foundation of the garden, that is, almost three cen- 

 turies ago. A tulip tree (Liriodendron Tulipifera) 28*8 m. 

 high, and 87 m. in diam. An Aildntus glandulosa 29*88 m. 

 high, and 0*65 m. in diam. AJuglans nigra 32*15 m. high, and 

 1 m. in diam. A Viburnum pyrifolium 10*38 m. high, and 

 0*29 m. in diam. A Pinus Cedrus (Cedrus Libani) 16*75 m. high, 

 and 0*42 m. in diam. A Quercus coccifera 8*8 m. high, and 

 0*36 m. in diam. A Salisbury adiantifolia $ [male] 5'5 m. 

 high, and 0*47 m. in diam. A £alix annularis 7°9 m. high, and 

 0*2 m. in diam. An A^cer Pseudo-Platanus 25*4 m. high, and 

 0*57 m. in diam. A Quercus i v lex 16*3 m. high, and 0*46 m. in 

 diam. A Melia AzedaracJi 18*4 m. high, and 0*6 m. in diam. 

 A Gleditschm triacanthos 27*2 m. high, and 0*75 m. in diam. 

 A Carpinus .Betulus 28*2 m. high, and 0*75 m. in diam. A 

 Carpinus orientalis 18*15 m. high, and 0*22 m. in diam. A 

 Fitex yfgnus castus 6*45 m. high, and 0*25 m. in diam. A Pla- 

 tanus occidentalis 20*8 m. high, and 0*95 m. in diam. A Pb- 

 pulus alba 25*8 m. high, and 1 m. in diam. A Styrax officinale 

 4*6 m. high, and 0*28 m. in diam. 



To the north of the central part, already described, are situ- 

 ated the ample magazines, sheds, reserve-ground, &c, of the 

 garden, the conservatories, and the hot-houses. The latter 



