186 A MAKtJAL OF THE CONIFERS. 



benefits of a far better education than usually falls to the lot of a 

 gardener. Unfortunately, his father died before Karl had completed 

 his nineteenth year, and, consequently, he determined to visit France 

 and England, where the state of Horticulture was in advance of that 

 of Germany. 



He first went to Paris, and succeeded in obtaining a situation in the 

 Jardin des Plantes, and whilst there, he laboured most assiduously to 

 make the most of the opportunities offered by that establishment to 

 improve himself. After gaining a tolerable knowledge of French, he 

 came to England haphazard, but falling ill before he obtained any 

 employment, he became very needy. "When his health became better, 

 he entered the Horticultural Society's garden as a common labourer, 

 where his superior intelligence and education soon became evident to 

 the authorities, and he was advanced to the higher and more lucrative 

 post of garden clerk. About that time, the lamented Douglas met 

 with his death, and it was resolved by the Society to send another 

 person to explore the highlands of Mexico, chiefly with a view to the 

 possible discovery of new plants which would bear the climate of this 

 country. 



Hartweg, having been selected for the expedition, left England in 

 October, 1836, for Vera Cruz, and from thence went to Santa Fe. 

 He did not, however, remain long in the unhealthy lowlands, but 

 ascended the Taquapan on the east side of the lofty Orizaba ; 

 and here he met with the first batch of the many splendid epiphytal 

 Orchids with which he enriched our gardens. He afterwards went 

 to the Aguas Calientes and Bolanos. Having explored the district, 

 he proceeded, in February, 1838, to Mechoancanha, where he made his 

 first important discpvery of Coniferous trees, for here he found Pinus 

 oocarpa, P. leiopliylla, and P. pseudo-strobus. Here, too, he saw the 

 majestic sacred fir Abies religiosa, rising to a height of 150 feet. 

 His next move was to the Real del Monte, and thence to Queretaro, 

 where he. met with Pinus Cembroides ( Llaveana) and P. patula, in 

 company with Gupressus thurifera, better known in England by the 

 name of 0. Knightiana. 



At the close of 1839, Hartweg was instructed to go to Guatemala, 

 and on his way he visited Oaxaca, the seat of Cochineal culture. 

 He remained a few days and discovered Pinus RusseMiana, P. Devo- 

 niana and P. Teocote. "While staying at Quesaltenango to collect 

 Orchids, ascending the highest of the mountain range, he discovered 

 P. Hartwegii and P. filifolia. He afterwards made a trip to Ecuador, 

 and the Cordilleras of New Granada, where he found several Orchids 

 not previously known. Soon after he embarked for England, where 

 he safely arrived hi 1843, after five years absence. 



In 1845 Hartweg went out again to America ; this time to Cali- 

 fornia. In his excursions through the country, he discovered Pinus 



