836. The Isle of Bourbon has a botanic garden, which was richly endowed by Louis Philippe, while king of the French; and it contains, besides the productions of the island, a splendid collection of African and Asiatic plants. It is situated on rising ground in the middle of the town, and occupies fourteen English acres. Besides this, within the last three years, there has been established a 'jardin de naturalisation,' or a garden expressly devoted to the purpose of inuring foreign plants to bear and thrive in the climate of the island; a most useful institution, and one to which we would call the attention of our Van Diemen's Land Society, as well as of the government and of our readers generally. It contains about eight English acres, and, together with the botanical garden, distributes upwards of 10,000 trees and shrubs annually among the colonists in this most improving little island. M. Brecan, a gentleman of high literary and scientific attainments, superintends the management of both gardens. (Gard. Mag., vol. vii. p. 664.)
[Editor's Note:Isle of Bourbon is now the French island of RTunion
