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tation makes its appearance at Rhodes and Jaffa, which becomes closely connected with that of Eg

The vegetation of the Mediterranean often presents itself with a smiling and agreeable aspect. Clumps of odorous Myrtles and Arbutus, the aromatic Charte-tree, frequently occur on its shores; magnificent Rose Laurels, whose praises have been sung by the poets, occupy the edges of the brooks. In Italy, Sicily, and Spain, the Orange trees form almost one mass of flowers and fruit. The Prickly Pear (Opuntia vulgaris), the African species of Agave, become here indigenous, forming impenetrable hedges in the southern parts of these countries, to which they give a marked and very characteristic landscape. The forests consist essentially of the Evergreen Oak (Quercus ilex), whose persistent leaves remain until after their third year, and whose acorns, which have a very agreeable taste, form a considerable portion of the people’s food. The Cork-tree (Quercus suber), mixed with other characteristic trees and shrubs, such as Erica arborea, with numerous species of -Cistus, with ephermal flowers, often large and of dazzling

¥ brilliance, mingling with the fragrant Geneta, or Broom, form the ordinary vegetation. Among the other species characteristic of the vegetable world

| of these happy regions we may cite the Cypress (Cupressus), the

Aleppo Pine (Pinus lariceo), some Plantains, the Olive, which we scarcely meet with elsewhere; Mastic-tree (Pistachio seritiscus), and the Pomegranate. Over a great part of the south coast of Sicily, a Palm, the Chamerops humilis, with fan-like foliage, waves beside the Date, sometimes from the bosom of a clump of Oranges and Citrons, its tall stipe crowned with an elegant panicle of drooping and featherlike leaves.

AsIA.

It would require a volume to give even an idea of the rich and varied vegetation of Asia. We must limit ourselves to a rapid glance of the features most characteristic of its northern, central, and southern divisions. The Northern region, of which Siberia is a part, forms _ @ botanical region in close connection with the hyperborean

portion of Europe in the one direction, and with its middle region on the other. It has its own peculiar character, nevertheless, from the predominance of certain families, such as the Leguminosex, Ranunculacexe, Crucifers, Siliacesze, and Umbellifers, some genera of which are remarkable for the number of their species. We may quote genus Astragalis among the Legumes; the Sprrea among Rosals; the Artemisia among the Compositez; and the Rhubarb among the Polygonacez. Considering the mean annual temperature which ranges there, from 2° to 6° above zero, we cannot reckon on a condition of vegetation very varied. Leafy forests are formed by the Siberian Larch, the Daurique Larch, the Siberian Pine, the Cimbrian Pine, and Pinus sylvestris, &c.; White Poplars and isolated Balsamic plants, some species of dwarf Birches, Service trees, Blackberries, Alders, Willows, “accompany them, while Myrtles and Alpine Roses form the under-shrubs. The Flora of the Steppes of Kamtschatka does not differ materially from that of the pasturages of central Europe. According as the spectator expects these to be rich or sterile, he is the more or less surprised to find stately Tulips and graceful Irises mingling _ with the grassy turf in spring, but the Absinthe, or Wormwood, _ Artemisia, and other monotonous forms of vegetation, succeed, a: them. Humboldt assigns to the forests of the Oural the vegetation — characteristic of a park. ‘They present,” he says, “an alternation consisting of a mixture of Aceracex, round-leaved plants, and other magnificent trees; an assemblage which is completed by masses of brushwood, formed by Wild Roses, Honeysuckles, and Juni- Cortusa, ] Polemonium, the blue-petalled the Hesperis, whilst pers, Mathiola, magnificent Primroses, and Larkspurs, form a perfect — carpet of flowers; while the Water Trefoil, with white blossoms and delicately carved leaves, is the grace of the marshes.” He saw also “on the banks of the Irtisch great spaces entirely coloured with red by Epilobiwm, with which were associated the tall-stemmed Larkspurs (Delphinium), with blue flowers, and the fiery-searlet Lychnis Chaleedonica.” S These fragmentary pictures, which we borrow from Muller's “ Wonders of the Vegetable World,” give an idea very different no doubt from that usually entertained of the vast regions included in Northern Asia.

In Central Asia we are transported into the vast regions lying between the Himalayas and China, including Japan.

The Magnolias: these grand-leaved trees, with magnificent flowers and delicate aroma, which give such an attractive feature to gardens where they can be cultivated, are natives of this vast region. So is the Camelia, which has been as it were naturalised in the greenhouses of Europe, whose evergreen, glossy, and persistent foliage is the admiration of travellers, and of which we may reckon upwards of seven hundred varieties of the Camelia Japonica alone; and the Tea plant (Thea virides), of whose precious leaves, so many millions of pounds are annually imported into Europe. Also the Aucuba, with coriaceous leaves and clustered flowers, so ornamental in our gardens and shrubberies. ’ Finally the genus Celastrus, Hollies, Spindle-tree (Lagerstiemin spire), &c.

The most remarkable trees and shrubs besides these are the elegant Palm (Rhaphis flabeliformis); the Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera); the fragrant Olive (Olea Europea), whose flowers are employed to give flavour to Tea leaves; the Ebony tree (Diospyros kaki), with white flowers, and berries of a cherry-red, and ofa delicious flavour; the Japan Medlar (Mespilus Japonica); the Ginko biloba, or Sacred tree, which is planted round the temples; the Yews (Taxus mucifera and verticulatea ); the Cypress (Cupressus pendula); some Junipers, Thujas, and Oaks—among the latter, Quercus glabra and glauco; the Alnus Japonica, Juglans nigra saadBlack Walnut), and several species of Laurels and Maples. Among the sltzvetad plants we find Rice, Wheat, Barley, Oats, Sorghum saracina, Sago-tree (Cycas revoluta); the Caraibian Cabbage (Caladium esculentum); Convolvulus batatas, the Apple, the Pear, Quince, Plum-tree, Cherry, Apricot, Peach, Medlar of Japan, divers species of Orange, Cabbages, Radishes, Yams, Cucumbers, Gourds, Water-Melons, Anise (Pimpinella anisum), Peas, Haricot Beans, Hemp, Paper Mulberry, Annual Cotton plant (Gossypium herbaceum)—a remarkable mingling of vegetable production which transports us at one moment from Asia to Europe, and at the next from Europe to Asia

The same curious assemblage of the vegetation of the tropics with that of the North of Europe occurs again in respect to culti- MM2

vated plants in Central Asia. We see here, side by side, the Fig, the Vine, the Chestnut-tree, and the Pomegranate, the Almond and the Citroris. In China and Japan we find under cultivation the Sarracenia, Wheat, Barley, Oats, Potatoes, Asparagus, Melons, Peas and Beans, and, along with them, Rice (Arum esculentum). and Indian Corn. We might here dwell upon a crowd of ornamental plants, many of which are now well known in Europe, such as Glycine, the Lily of Japan, the Tiger Lily, the Chinese Primrose, and the Magnolia, which are native in Russian Asia, and well-known ornaments of our hothouses.

The Southern region of Asia comprehends the Indian peninsula. Here non-tropical species disappear, or only present themselves very rarely. Tropical groups become more numerous; the trees cease to lose their leaves; ligneous vegetation is much greater than it is without the tropics; the flowers are larger, more magnificent;climbing creeping and parasitic plants increase in number and size. India may be considered the true country of aromatic plants. Nor is the rich soil less fruitful in the production of plants of another order. Trees producing suitable timber for constructive purposes are found there in perfection.

Among the arborescent plants those most abundant in this botanical region are found to belong to the genera of Bombazx, Sapindus, ‘Mimosa, Acacia, Cassia, Jambosa, Gardenia. The Ebony-tree (Diospyrus ebenum) has been celebrated for its black coloured, solid wood from the most ancient times. The Bignonia (Tectona grandis) is a magnificent tree, which furnishes timber well adapted for building purposes from its great endurance. Isonandra gutta produces the substance analogous to caoutchoue, which is known as Gutta-percha. The Laurels have an aromatic bark. The Nutmeg-tree (Myristica) produces seeds which are employed as spice. The Figs (Ficus religiosa, Indica, elastica); Palms, such as the Borassus (Borassus flabelliformis), whose magnificent leaves extend in large fan-like panicles; the Sagus, whose soft pulp yields sago, a farinaceous product very rich in amidon; the Calamus, whose twining and creeping stem is sometimes upwards of five hundred feet in length, and of one uniform thickness, and of which many canes used in Europe are made. The —. ies (Areca catechu), the nut of which is a favourite masticatory — a

Plate XX.—Landscape of an Indian Forest.

with the natives; the Corypha umbraculifera, the trunk of which, sometimes reaching the height of sixty or seventy feet, is crowned with an ample tuft of leaves spread out in umbrella form, covering a space of eighteen feet; the Dragon tree; the Screw-pines (Pandanus); the Bamboo, and many others, equally noted for their size and properties, are natives of this region.

If we throw a glance, moreover, at the plants under cultivation, we find them equally important:—Rice; the Earth Nut; Sorghum; Indian Corn; the Cocoa-nut Palm, the elegant and useful tree which gives to man almost all the necessaries of life, supplying him at once with shelter, food, light, heat, and clothing; the Clove-tree (Caryophyllus aromaticus), the flower of which is the well-known clove; the Pepper shrub (Piper nigrum), the fruit of which, gathered before maturity, constitutes the pepper which has been constantly brought to Europe since the expedition of Alexander the Great; and the Betel Pepper (P. Betela), with bitter and aromatic leaves, in which the Southern Asiatics enclose a few slices of the Areca nut, which they chew to sweeten the breath and stay their hunger; the Tamarind (Zamarindus Indica), a magnificent tree, the fruit of which encloses a pulp of vinous odour and tartish flavour; the Mango (Mangifera Indica), whose much-vaunted fruit has a sweet and richly perfumed flavour, accompanied with a grateful acidity;the Mangostan (Garcinia Mangostana), whose berry encloses, under a bitter and astringent epicarp, a delicious pulp, having a happy mixture of the tart and sweet; the Banana-trees (Musacee), of many species, whose yellow clustered fruit, each six or eight inches long, furnish a very nourishing food, which has the taste of buttered paste, slightly sugared, while its leaves form a delicate vegetable, and its fermented juice an agreeable wine; the Schambu (Jambosa vulgaris), whose small apples communicate to the mouth a rose-like odour; the Guava (Psidium pomiferum), with yellow fruit of the size of a Pear; many Oranges; Water-Melons; Sugar-cane, and the Coffee shrub, are all found among the number. We have attempted in Plate XX. to give an ideal representation of the principal species of vegetables belonging to the botanical region which we have just described. Some rustic species are figured in the foreground. On the left of the picture _

is the Corypha—Palms which rise in their native climate to the height of a hundred feet. On the left is the Arenga saccharifera and a group of Bamboos. Towards the centre, but still on the left, and near the trunk of a great Sandal-wood-tree, the Sinapus, surmounted by the Sago-tree (Raphis flabilliformis). In the middle distance is the Areca Palm, its stem intertwined and surrounded by embracing Lianes. On the right is the Palm Bo- ~ passes; close by is the Banana; both in the shade of a large Mango-tree, the Cinnamon Laurel. All this group is backed by a lofty Cocoa-nut tree. The vegetables cultivated in the background are—the Pepper-tree (Piper), the Camphor-tree (Cinnamomum camphora), behind the Cocoa-nut-tree, and in the distance the Nutmeg and the Pepper-tree, near a row of Bamboos and Rotangs.

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