PARIS. ,391 



propagated by means of chips or cuttings of the roots, 

 which are placed in shallow trenches, and grow readily. 



The summer and autumn trees are separated by an al- 

 ley, and rows of maples : the autumn and winter by a si- 

 milar alley, planted with larches. The winter quarter, it 

 is scarcely necessary to say, consists wholly of evergreens. 



We had now completed our examination of the principal 

 part of the new garden, or that which was added under the 

 auspices of Buffon ; when I left Messrs Hay and Mac- 

 donald to prosecute their investigations, having made an 

 engagement to meet M. Lucas fils before three o'clock, 

 which is the hour of the weekly meeting of the first class 

 of the Institute. 



Institid. 

 The meetings are held in the famous College des Quatre 

 Nations of Cardinal Mazarine, now called the Palais des 

 Beaux Aries, situate on the Quai de la Monnaie, opposite 

 to the Pont des Artes. Before the sitting took place, 

 M. Lucas kindly introduced me to Professor Desfontaines, 

 M. Sylvestre, M. Labillardiere, and some other of the 

 scavans who were present, and who are distinguished as 

 agronomes, or philosophical and theoretical agriculturists. 

 Just as the seance had commenced, I was agreeably sur- 

 prised to see Mr Playfair, Professor of Natural Philoso- 

 phy in our University, enter the hall ; and gratified to re- 

 mark the attention with which my distinguished country- 

 man and kind friend was immediately conducted to a seat 

 near the President. The Professor had spent last winter 

 in Italy, and was now on his return to Scotland *. The 

 meeting was full ; even those members most advanced in 

 years seeming to make a point of giving attendance. 



* We regret to have to add, that, like several other distinguished per- 

 sons whom we have had occasion to mention, Professor Playfair has since 

 died,— in July 1819. 



