_ SEPTEMBER. 263 
remember hearing Sir William Hooker say that nature had given to 
plants a certain vitality which frost could not destroy, to other plants 
organisation to which frost was death. The artificial condition in which 
you may place any living thing may keep it alive for a certain time, or 
80 long as you keep it within ‘the boundary of such a temperature in 
its extreme limit as belongs to the habitat of the plant. The Olive treey 
of Italy and France mark the exact state of the thermometer in’ its 
natural range. In sheltered spots a few Olive and Orange trees’ grow 
In localities the temperature of which falls below zero—occasionally, 
perhaps once in seven years, and then but fora short period; it ig, 
however, for ornamental purposes that such plants are grown, the natives 
‘know how fruitless it would be to contest’ the boundary fixed ‘by the 
‘Creator. For many years (‘ages ago”) we can ‘all remember plants 
nursed in stoves which now flourish in the garden, ‘and ‘forget that the 
‘mistake was to regard all exotics as ténder and suffocate them ‘in 
ignorance ‘of the plant and of the country from which it had been 
“obtained. China has always been our great store-house ; even ‘since 
the discovery of South America our most valuable acquisitions are from 
the Kast, Mr. Fortune has done more to enrich our gardens and ensure 
“a.succession of the charming sélection of plants madé during his travels 
‘for England than all previous collectors. | 
.. The Jardin des Plantes was founded in 1635, and is entitled to 
“reverence, not only because of Buffon, Cuyier, and other eminent 
naturalists who gave their services to this noble establishment, but as 
the parent of all the zoological and natural history societies in which 
one branch or kingdom can be compared and illustrate others: | The 
“museum of comparative anatomy is said to be ‘the richest in existence, 
‘and is indebted to the unwearied exertions of Baron Cuvier, by whom 
“it was arranged, and under whose direction most’ of the objects were 
prepared. The mineralogical museum is unique ; ‘the specimens ‘are 
“arranged in two rooms each 540 feet long, 40 feet wide, and 30 feet 
high.” The admirable order, the wealth of precious metals in all states, 
gems also in every condition, renders the museum eminently instructive 
“and attractive. 
“Under the care of my friend Herr Louis Neumann, who was educated 
_at Kew and speaks English elegantly, as he does French and German, 
the garden has been wonderfully improved; with a good: eye for colour 
-and form, he has made groups of plants so attractive, that crowds linger 
- round them with delight, who would have felt no pleasure in the old 
formal arrangement. Peonies make a bed so gay that’ Roses, which 
“are very fine, seemed dwarfed by comparison ; the rose-coloured, the 
white, and the dark red Peony in a mass are really grand. The 
~ Hydrangea also makes a goodly show, when you have fifty plants in 
‘one mass. The Cinothera makes a gay bed, and the Iris ai‘very 
“attractive one. The strictly botanical part of the garden cannot be 
made ornamental; plants flower at different times and must remain in 
“ order, so that there are always great ugly gaps in the square beds which 
“science demands, rejecting all ornamentation. A capital arrangement 
“facilitates the student’s labour, that he may know the nature of the plants 
. by the colour of the tickets; the: red’ denotes medicinal, the green 
