73 



which does not injure the prospect. Where the streets are very 



wide, there is in front of every house a small garden, fenced in front, 

 and generally containing a small green, and Bome tufts of eleoant 

 shrubs or beautiful flowering plants, which give to tlie whole street 

 a cheerful, and to a certain degree a theatrical appearance. The 

 houses themselves are often covered as high as the second story with 

 Jasmine, Roses (particularly Rosa semperflorens and BanhsU), with 

 Clemaiisy Corchorus japonicns^ Tiignonia radicans, and the like, or 

 entwined with them as a beautiful garland. Camellias (?), Rhodo- 

 dendronSy and Dahlias, usually form the clumps on the green places 

 before the houses, which are no where seen in such perfection as ia 

 England ; for the beauty of these verdant lawns, which extend in front 



t 



of the dwelhngs like a green velvet carpet, has often attracted my 

 attention ; and I have inquired of several gardeners the names of the 

 particular species of grass employed for this purpose. Agrostis alba, 

 verticillata, and stolonifera, Poa pratensis, Lolium perenne, and Fes^ 

 tucapratensis, have all been indifferently named : almost everj- person 

 has mentioned some other kind than has been recommended by my 

 former informants ; but all agree in this, that these grass plots re- 

 quire to be mown carefully every fortnight, — some say even every 

 week,^ — with the scythe ; in fact, to be close shaven. To the great 

 frequency with which the grass is cut, the beauty of these lawns, or 

 bowling-greens, seems to be chiefly owing : their fine preservation 

 is also aided by the mild and equable climate of England, where 

 the winters are never so severe as to check vegetation for any long 

 period, nor the summers so scorching as to burn up the tender roots ; 

 •while the frequent foo-s and constantly damp state of the atmosphere 

 morning and evening are highly favourable to verdure. Were the 

 lawns in our country to be mown so often and so close, they would 



infallibly be soon burnt up. The opulent Englishman is so partial to 



.a garden, that if his house should chance to have a northern ex- 

 posure where not a ray of sun can reach, he will yet plant it with 

 evergreen shrubs, as the Ilex; and with such flowers as are found 

 capable of enduring such an aspect. It is the general taste that 

 prevails for plants, to which the number of nurser}^-grounds, and the 

 astonishingly active business that they carry on, are owing- The 

 success of so many marchands des plantes continually encourages 



