MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 83 
reflection in the clear and sparkling, swiftly-flowing water is 
unusually beautiful. Separated from the chateau by moats 
whose steep stone-faced banks are half hidden by masses of 
flowers and vines, are two parterres. The parterre proper is 
surrounded on four sides by a broad, elevated walk with a 
low balustrade on its outer margin. Large scrolls of dusty 
miller (Artemesia Stelleriana) are the dominating feature of 
the parterre. Beds, which in normal times contain flowers, 
border the walks and are now filled with numerous bays, box- 
woods, and evergreens trained to standards, pyramids, and 
globes. Grapes are trellised against the walls of the raised 
walk. The smaller western parterre is also planted with 
scrolls of artemesia on a green background, but only a few 
pyramidal bays for point plants. From the formal gardens 
shady alley-ways lead through densely wooded areas and 
terminate in clearings containing some crumbled remnants of 
a statue or fountain. These avenues are sadly neglected, and 
progress is at times hindered by fallen trees and branches. 
Again, mere traces of what formerly were beautiful grassy 
lanes can be seen. Of all the chateaux the tourist may visit 
in Touraine, Chenonceaux should be included, for the position 
is magnificent, the exterior fine, and the gardens interesting. 
The city of Tours, four hours by rail south from Paris, is 
the most convenient center from which to visit numerous 
chateaux in the valley of the Loire and Cher Rivers. 
Seven miles west from Tours the first chateau of importance 
is that of Luynes, an impressive feudal castle built on a steep 
ridge above the town. The castle is reached by stone steps, 
en either side of which are little gardens terraced out of the 
hillside. Within the chateau there is a square court bounded 
on three sides by the walls and on the side overlooking the 
valley of the Loire by a double row of closely clipped trees. 
Across the Loire and several miles further west, along the 
Cher River, lies the village of Villandry with its chateau of 
the sixteenth century. The building and grounds have been 
remodeled in recent years and what was formerly a fine lawn 
is now replaced by three distinct formal gardens. The central 
and largest of the three is composed of nine square plots, each 
enclosed by a low latticed fence, upon which dwarf fruit trees 
are trained by the Cordon system. The plans of the beds in 
each of the plots differ, but the central feature, a small square 
pool containing a pedestal and flower vase, is common to all. 
All the beds, edged with box (Buxus) clipped square and 
low, contain vegetables or flowers equally spaced to carry out 
the strictly formal scheme. The outer rectangular beds of 
each plot contain a variety of dwarf fruit trees. Broad walks 
