l4o DESCRIPTION OF THE MUSEUM. 



tulipifera, marks the original limits of the gar- 

 den ; which are also indicated by the inferior 

 growth of the main avenue, prolonged, as we 

 have already seen, in 1783. Next follow four 

 other squares, of which the first is enclosed by a 

 trellis, and planted with ever-green trees, in gra- 

 dation for the benefit of the sun, the largest to- 

 wards the north upon the avenue, and the more 

 diminutive towards the south upon the rue de 

 Buffon : among them are some very large silver 

 firs, pinus picea ; Jerusalem pines ; beautiful red 

 cedars, juniperus Virginiana; an oak with sweet 

 acorns, quercus ballota(i); the variegated and 

 the Mahon hollies, ilex variegata and /. balea- 

 rica, etc. 



This square is separated by an alley of larches (2) 

 from the following, which is also enclosed by a 

 trellis, and contains a variety of trees whose fruit 

 or foliage arrives at perfection in the autumn. 

 Among them are a pacane-nut hickory, juglans 

 olivceformis (3), the largest in France ; two stocks 



(1) la Spain the glands are eaten like chesnuts. 



(2) These trees grow to the height of 120 feet on mountains and in 

 cool and shady situations; but they do not succeed in the King's Gar- 

 den. The larches and the deciduous cypress are the only trees in the 

 family of the conifcrce which lose their leaves in the winter. 



(3) This tree, originally from Upper Louisiana, grows abundantly on 

 the borders of rivers and marshes. Its nuts are an object of com- 

 merce in the United States. It has not yet bloomed in France* 



