VI. THE SEED-GARDEN: 



This indispensable accessary to the botanic gar- 

 den has existed only since 1786: the ground 

 was procured the preceding year by Buffon, 

 and confided to the direction of M. Thouin; to 

 whose memoirs in the 4th and 6th volumes of 

 the Annals of the Museum we refer the reader, 

 who wishes to become acquainted with its de- 

 tails, and with the methods employed in rearing 

 the vegetables of every climate. 



This enclosure is 885 square fathoms in extent, 

 and is 10 feet below the general level of the 

 Garden. It is sheltered by a wall on the east, by 

 the green-house on the north, and by the small 

 hill of ever-green trees on the west : its plan 

 and distribution may be seen from the avenue of 

 horse-chesnuts or the terrace of the menagerie. 

 The entrance is by a flight of steps at the end of 

 the terrace of the green-house, which is 200 feet 

 long, and which in the fine season, when filled 

 with trees and shrubs that have passed the winter 



