NURSERY or TARASCON. ^1 



I arrived atTarascon about half-past two o'clock, and, 

 having procured a guide, proceeded immediately to the 

 nursery of the Messrs. Audibert, whom I found at home. 

 The nursery is about a mile and half from the town. 

 Messrs. Audibert expressed the greatest desire to be of 

 service to me. One of the brothers conducted me 

 through a great part of their nurseries, which are exten- 

 sive and apparently very well kept. He also insisted 

 that I should remain for the night, and made up a packet 

 of every variety of seeds which they could imagine 

 would be useful in New South Wales. The elder 

 brother, M. Urban Audibert, is a corresponding Member 

 of the Horticultural Society of London, and has, as M. 

 Delisle informed me, a very extensive correspondence in 

 all parts of Europe. His library is filled with books on 

 all matters connected with rural economy and natural 

 history, in all languages. I selected from their list of 

 vines eight or ten varieties, whicli I either knew to be 

 wanting in M. Delisle's collection, or conceived to be so 

 valuable that I was glad of the opportunity of making 

 still surer of possessing them. These, being rooted 

 plants, will afford the proof whether they or the cuttings 

 are more capable of bearing the transport to New South 

 Wales. 



Having, according to the advice of M. Delisle, con- 

 sulted Messrs. Audibert respecting the packing of the 

 plants, he expressed his fear that without moss they 

 would soon all die; for the north wind, he observed, 

 caused dryness as much as the heat; his brother was 

 accordingly kind enough to accompany me to the town, 

 with a man who carried a bag of moss. The plants 

 were unpacked, and the boxes lined with double oiled 

 paper, to prevent the access of air, and the escape of 



