l66 DESCRIPTION OF THE MUSEUM. 



hundred species in the garden, or one fifth of the 

 whole; which is the proportion observed be- 

 tween the two great divisions, in the vegetation 

 of the globe. 



The dicotyledon families begin with the aris- 

 tolochia, which form a separate class : after them 

 are the eleagnece, the proteacece, the laurince 

 and the poljgonece which comprise the rhubarbs, 

 the amaranihi, the labiatce, and the solanece, 

 in which the genus night-shade, solarium, alone 

 contains more than sixty species : there are 

 also several species of thorn-apple, datura, and 

 tobacco, nicotiana, lately received. 



A little further, at about one third of the length 

 of the garden, is a bed of bog-mould surrounded 

 by a trellis and sheltered from the north and 

 west, for the heath family, ericece. 



We next arrive at the numerous class of com- 

 pound plants, of which eight hundred and fifty 



The males, that fetter'd near the bottom lay, 



Burst their weak stems and cleave the eddying way, 



Crowd round each fair, exhale their amorous pain, 



And form her court above the moving plain ; 



As if with pomp th' auspicious bridal god 



In festal triumph o'er the waters rode. 



But soon, accomplish'd Venus' pleasing law, 



Again the females from the light withdraw — 



Sink on their spires, and 'neath the wave secure 



Brood o'er the joy, and fruitful seeds mature. 



Castel, Poemc dcs Planlcs, Chant L 



