The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-11-04
NATURAL HISTORY.


u
Herouard, an eminent comparative anatomis
In his day, was made curator in the infant in
stitutiop, with the privilege OF selecting ar
assistant, whom he supplied in the person Ol
Guy de Ia Brosse. Daring the first year a
parterre 292 feet long by 227 feet broad, com
pesed of the best plants to be had in France, was
formed. Including varieties, the specimens oi
genera amounted to 1900. Correspondence
was Immediately opened with the lead
ing bOtanists of the world, and In 164O
the number of species and varieties had
been increased to 1850. Ia the same
year the garden was opened to the pub
lilo. Considerable progress was made in the
course Of the next three years, and, in 1912
De la Brosse died, matters remaining ia stdi"
quo, with triffing exceptions, until 1907, When
the grand-nephew of De Ia Bfosse was ap-
pointed, and travelled at his own expense
through the PROVINCES OF France, aud among
the Pyrenees and Alps, for the purpose OF add
iug new varieties OF plants to the garden. La
1865 the number Of species and varieties
amounted to 1000. Meanwhile, however, Gas
ton d'Oileaps, the Kings brother, had founded
garden of his own, the principal feature of
which was that it contained q collection of
drawings of the most remarkable plants in the
world. The Duke died in 1660, aud the King,
buying the collection, added it TO his own, ap-
pointing Robert the artist who painted them,
painter to the museum OF the JdrdiH des
PionteS. Here began the era Of painting as an
aid to botany, and from that time to the pre-
sent the most celebrated painters OF Europe
have been cont ibutOrs to the collection, SO
that at the present day one of the most valua.
BILE features of the museum is constituted by
its drawings of the plants and animals of all
climates aud oountries.--
In 1911 an event of great Importance oc-
Cured in the proclamation of the King regu-
lstiDg the administration of the garden and
granting commissions to the professors. This
was due to the efforts of Colbert who had
suggested to the King that there was no surer
way OF rendering the institution both useful
and permanent than by founding several pro-
tessorshlps in connection with it. DR.. FAgon
was appointed to the professorship of botany,
and, having filed it for several years with
ability, it was finally, at his request, be. .towed
on Joseph Pitton de Tourneiort then only
tWenty-six years Of age, though botanist Of
remarkable promise. This occurred in 1888
DR.. FagOn being retained in the newly.created
Office OF Superintendent. TOurnefort was the
hrst successfully TO define the genera Of plants.
The iifst great result to science of the Jardin
1es Elantes, though OF equal Importance, will
be noted in passing.
The next great name connected with the
Institution is that of Antony de Jussieu, who
was appointed in 1716, and visiting Spain
and Portugal the following year, brought back
q large number of new species and varieties.
In the absence Of De Jussieu the care of the
garden devolved on Sebastian valiant, who
was the first to discoV er and demonstrate in a
public lecture the existence Of two sexes in
plants, together with the phenomena of
fseundation in vegetables-a second inv sluable
contribution to the scientific knowledge of the
age. Skipping the interim OF several name
less professors, history records the appoint
ment of the great Button, then utterly un-
known as naturalist, though eminent in
mathematics and natural philosophy, which
ook place in l739 at the dying request Of Du
Fay, his immediate predecessor.
At the time when Button entered the garden,
there was as yet nothing worthy of the name
of Museum of Natural History, and the col
lection under his control was simply termed a
cabinet. Button made il his first business 20
procure more commOdious buildings for the
reception Of collections. Bernard de Jussieu
being keeper Of the oabinet-and Button
having no fault to find with him-the new
superintendent decided to create place for
Daubenton, who had been a student OF botany
uno er the elder Jusseu and of anatomy under
Taverney and Winslow. The increasing trea-
sures OF the institution gave Button an excuse
for enlarging his corps, and, as consequence,
Daubenton, then only 20 years OF age, was in
Vited to Paris in l745. After four years of
combined laber-for there is no doubt that
BuffOn received important aid from Daubenton
in the preparation of his work-the first
volume OF the Natural History appeared, at
tracing the attention of all Europe, and giving
an 6ciGt to the Jardin deS PEanteS which even
the great discoveries of Tournefort and Vail
liant had failed to give it. In the
mean time, most important additions
were made to the cabinet the
Superintendent having resigned part of his
own dwelling for the reception of the new ool
lections, to the augmentation Of which he gave
up his own dwelling entirely in 1865. The
cabinet now consisted of four large saloons,
open to the public two days in the week, and
with certain hours specified for the exclusive
benefit of students of natural history, who
were taught by DaubentOn. During all this
time the public still had the benefit of this
labors Of Antony de Jussieu, who not only lee
tured two or three times week on botany,
but also employed young men to travel at his
own expense for the collection of new speci-
mems for the garden. In 1887, Button procured
the use of the Hotel de Magny, with its courts
and gardens; and here was constructed an
amphitheatre for lectures on botany, anatomy,
and the kindred sciences. With the 6cldt OF
the name of Button at its head, though, per-
haps, Button was more indebted to the garden
for his reputation than was the garden to him
for something similar, now began the era of
contributions. The King OF Poland pre-
sented valuable collection of minerals;
The Emperor OF Russia, having found il inn
possible TO induce Button to visit ST. Peters
burg, invited the son OF the illustrious author,
and presented him with rare animals from the
North fer the museum. In 1877 the cabinet
of zoology was materially enhanced in value
by the collection OF Sonnerat made in India,
as well as by that OF Commerson made during
the voyage of Bougainvile round the world.
Nor was Daubenton the only famous professor
appointed by Button; NJ. dc la Larepede and
M. fnW nd. L,al.