Foreign Notices : — loniati Islajids, Africa. 101 



rocks. Only a moderately large larch stood there, probably planted in the time 

 of Linnaeus, when this tree was rare in Sweden. A pleasure-ground_(g«?-i!e7z- 

 park) was laid out near the dwelling-house, in which, although now in a wild 

 state, traces were still visible of regular plantations, paths, and bowers. 

 Similar to the country seat of the Philosopher of Ermenonville, attention is 

 directed here by means of memorial tablets {gedachtnisstafehi) to every 

 group of trees that Linnaeus had planted, and to those seats on which he 

 reposed with most pleasure. A circle of poplars, a hedge of rhamnuses*, 

 and some plants o? A^cer Pseudo-Platanus were the only traces remaining of 

 their long departed planter. Probably this was the spot which Linnaeus 

 called his Siberian garden at Hammarbj', and where he mentions that he 

 cultivated 500 kinds of seeds sent him by the Empress of Russia. The high 

 grass was intermixed with the beautiful jPuraaria nobilis, growing completely 

 wild here. We also saw the Jnemone ranunculoides, and several other plants 

 rare in this country. After we had collected several specimens of plants, as 

 mementos of their immortal master (pjleger), we went to the celebrated 

 Stones near Mora.f These stones are situated in the neighbourhood of Ham- 

 marby; and the monument erected on them is nearly of the same form as the 

 Museum of Linnaeus ; two memorials of different periods, and different ob- 

 jects, but probably of equally great historical value to their native country, 

 {Vei^handlungen, &c., for 1837. Berlin, p. S67.) 



IONIAN ISLANDS. 



The Gardens of Alcinous. — The ultra new palace, built by Sir Frederick 

 Adam on the supposed site of the gardens of Alcinous, in the island of Corfu, 

 is so unhealthy, that, notwithstanding its splendour, Lord Nugent declined to 

 live in it; and it was, in consequence, converted into an hospital for idiots, 

 {The Colonies of the Ionian Islands, by Col, Napier, p. 213.) 



AFRICA. 



Hydrangea Hedges in the Island of Madeira. — All the hedges of hydrangea 

 planted on the mountains round Funchal bear only blue flowers, and the blue 

 is of a beautiful deep shade ; those, on the contrary, planted in the gardens 

 of the city of Funchal itself retain the pink colour ; or, at most, assume a pale 

 dirty shade of blue. Must we conckule that the soil above is much more rich 

 in iron than the soil below, and that the latter contains more of vegetable and 

 animal matter ? Or is it because the air on heights contains much more 

 oxygen than the atmosphere of the city ? Or do both causes concur simulta- 

 neously in producing this constant effect ? Many amateurs have assured me 

 that they have never been able to preserve the natural colour of the pink hy- 

 drangea on the mountain. Another remarkable fact is, that the foliage of these 

 blue hydrangeas is astonishingly vigorous, and of an extremely dark spinach- 

 green. The soil in which they grow is never changed ; though, in Europe, gar- 

 deners and amateurs are of opinion that, to produce hydrangeas of a blue 

 colour, they should not have ferruginous earth many years in succession; but. 



* Linnaeus seems to have been very fond of this tree, as it is found in 

 several places. It was probably on account of its supposed use in medicine, 

 such as in Aoilhaud's powder, made from its berries. Sic. 



f Stones of Mora. In ancient times, it was the custom to elect the kings 

 of Sweden (eriv'dhlt) at the Stones of Mora : such of these were Erich der 

 Zeitige, Waldemar, Magnus Ladulus, &c. : Charles VIII. (Knutson) was 

 the last who was elected here, in 1437. The names of these kings, also their 

 coats of arms, and three crowns, are found engraven here on several stones; 

 and, in order to preserve these interesting memorials, a small house of stone 

 has been erected over them, near which a person lives who keeps the key, and 

 acts as a guide to strangers. 



H 3 



