4 



of the Netherlandish Indies. Guided by large views, the new King had added to the number of Com 

 missioners a distinguished naturalist, Reinwardt, a professor of the Athenaeum of Amsterdam, in order 

 to establish upon a solid basis the study of the marvellous nature which forms the wealth of the 

 Dutch possessions in southern Asia. 



The squadron did not reach the Strait of Sunda until the last of April of the following year. 

 The passengers were delighted after their long and dreary voyage, to sail among the charming islands 

 set as so many emeralds in the narrow silvery bands into which they divided the strait ; and to breathe 

 in the sweet perfumes wafted from the shores. They might* well have desired to remain there and 

 to put off the task awaiting them, for the future held many vexations. 



Buitenaorg, situated about twenty-six miles from Batavia, in latitude 6°35' south, longi- 

 tude 106°53' east, upon one of the long northern slopes of Mount Salak, a charming site enjoying a 

 beautiful and healthful climate, was selected as the site of a Botanical Garden. Work upon it was 

 commenced with 50 native laborers under the direction of two head gardeners one of whom had fol- 

 lowed the same calling in Holland, while the other had been brought up in the Royal Gardens of Kew. 

 It would have been difficult to find in all Java a place better adapted to an undertaking of this kind, 

 because, thanks to especial conditions, Buitenzorg added to its other advantages that of not being 

 visited by the dry monsoon. 



It is evident that a period of drought almost continuous for four or five months, as is common in 

 the Island of Java would be suitable for only a very small part of plant life. Even the climate of 

 Batavia, where an absence of heavy rains for two or three months is not of rare occurence, would be 

 much less adapted to a botanical garden than that of Buitenzorg, where they complain of it as an un- 

 favourable year if in the midst of the dry season, so-called, there occur three consecutive weeks without 

 rain. These frequent and heavy rains have a double advantage for the garden : first, Buitenzorg is in- 

 debted to them for its luxuriant vegetation which grows continuously ; and in the second place the rains 

 cause a lowering of the mean temperature which renders possible the culture of many plants of the 

 virgin forests of the mountains, although Buitenzorg is situated at an altitude of only about nine hun- 

 dred feet. In order to give an idea of how much water falls yearly on an average upon this Sans Souci 

 of Java it will be sufficient to say that here the rainfall measures about one hundred seventy- five inches, 

 while in Holland, one of the most rainy countries in Europe, it reaches only about twenty-five inches. 



At first no regular plan was decreed for the management of the garden. The archives contain no 

 indication of any rules whatever regarding it. It is only known that its founder, Reinwardt, made 

 numerous expeditions into the surrounding country for plants. The first Catalogue of the " State 

 Botanical Garden," the name officially, adopted, published some months' after the departure of Rein- 

 wardt, contains an enumeration of nine hundred and twelve species. Reinwardt returned to Europe 

 in 1822, in order to occupy a chair in the University of Leyden. During the succeeding years 

 there were several changes in the management of the garden and its experienced varying degrees of 

 fortune. Finally, in 1830, J. E. Teysmann was named chief gardener. This man, who had had only 

 the education of a Primary School received a half century later a testimonial, as remarkable as it was 

 rare of the esteem in which he was held by the whole scientific world. Besides the Diplomas of Honour 

 given him and the felicitations sent from all parts of the world, there was presented to him an Album 

 in which more than one hundred Botanists, among them Darwin and Candolle, presented him their 

 respects ; and this Album upon its gold plate bore the following inscription : " To the most distinguished 

 and indefatigable J. E. Teysmann, who has spent half of his life-time in the exploration of the bota- 

 nical treasures of the Indian Archipelago, from his admiring colleagues." It was under the manage- 

 ment of this man that the garden became a scientific institution of the State, with a Director and a 

 special budget and an entire independence of the Viceroy. Let us now rapidly glance over its actual 

 organization. 



The Institution comprises three distinct Departments. First there is the Botanical Garden, pro- 



f»erly so called, in the centre of the town, occupying an area of about eighty acres. It is crossed by a 

 arge and beautiful walk called the Walk of the Kanaries, after the native name of the trees which 

 border it, beautiful specimens of the Canarhim commune, frequently reaching a height of ninety feet. 

 Over this walk which runs along by the side of an artifical lake containing a little Island, pass daily 

 numberless carriages and pedestrians. Leading out from it in every direction, numerous paths pene- 

 trate to all parts of the grounds. Plants of the same family are found grouped together, or occupying 

 one of the entire divisions marked out by the paths. At one corner of each such plot is to be found a 

 notice of the species which it incloses ; and each species is represented by two plants, one of which bears 

 a label giving its scientific name, its common name, and usually its special characteristics. His atten- 

 tion being attracted to the great number of climbing plants in the tropical regions, Teysmann conceived 

 the happy idea of giving them a special place in the .garden, where each might be surrounded with its 

 natural conditions ; and this department now offers a vast field for interesting observations. The total 

 number of herbaceous plants comprised is about nine thousand. 



In the middle of the garden is found a series of nurseries where young plants arc cultivated partly 

 under shelter which protects them from the heat of the sun and from injury by the heavy rains. Some 

 plants demand particular care, notably certain species of ferns and of the Araccw and of the orchid 

 family. These are placed in buildings, resembling the hot houses of Europe, but with this difference 

 that here they serve to keep the plants cool, instead of procuring for them a higher temperature. The 

 garden has its own carpenters for executing such constructions — a little detail, which, however, will 

 serve to give an idea of the scale upon which it is organized. 



The nativo pcrtonnel is composed of a hundred individuals, among whom are three possessed of a 

 special botanical knowledge, much more profound than one would expect to find among the Malays. 

 This force works under the supervision of the Gardener-in-Chief and his Assistant. 



