552 



THE FRUIT GARDENS NEAR PARIS. 



the ground, or in one instance to five short 

 stakes. The wires represent the angles of 

 a five-sided pyramid — a pyramid apparent- 

 ly fifteen feet high on a pentagonal base. 

 Branches are trained directly from the stem 

 to each of the wires. In order to convey 

 some idea of these trees, one may imagine 

 five upright trellises or screens projecting 

 from a central upright, forming the parti- 

 tions of as many equal recesses, widening 

 outwards. The branches form such parti- 

 tions with good effect as regards regularity; 

 and when they become ornamented with 

 leaves and fruit the whole must prove an 

 interesting sight. The trees had a fruitful 

 appearance. 



Instead of the branches radiating from 

 the stem in five directions, it might be 

 found more convenient to train them out to 

 four points, say east, west, north, and 

 south. It may, however, be observed, that, 

 in the pear tree, five buds form a spiral 

 once round the shoot or stem ; or, in other 

 words, supposing the leading shoot to be 

 perpendicular, every fifth, tenth, fifteenth, 

 &c, bud will be in the same vertical plane. 

 Therefore, if the number of buds between 

 one branch and that next above it be al- 

 ways a multiple of five, the branches radia- 

 ting in each of the five directions will ori- 

 ginate exactly above each other. 



The trees above described had been for- 

 merly grown as pyramids in the usual way, 

 with branches extending promiscuously ; 

 but M. Cappe is of opinion that by com- 

 mencing with a young tree, the tutor and 

 wires may be dispensed with. In exposed 

 situations the wires form excellent stays ; 

 and where they are employed, a compara- 

 tively slender stake will be sufficient. 



A curious specimen of trellis-work was 

 standing against the end of one of the 

 sheds adjoining the plant houses. It had 

 been formed by crossing and inarching the 

 branches of apple trees, so as to form rhom- 

 boid interstices. The piece had been grown 

 from three stems, and was three or four 

 feet high. The branches were so com- 

 pletely united, that although the bark was 

 partly of?, and the wood somewhat fissured 

 by exposure, it was impossible to say with 

 which stem in particular the vegetation of 

 the respective branches had communicated. 

 I am of opinion, that if any one of the stems 



had been sawed over, the branches it sup- 

 ported would have derived nourishment to 

 keep them alive from the other roots. It 

 appeared to have been removed from the 

 place of its growth many years ; but previ- 

 ously it must have formed part of a very 

 strong living espalier. 



Several of the hot-houses are very old, 

 and will probably be pulled down as soon 

 as the contemplated additional new ranges 

 are finished. At present there is not half 

 sufficient room for the large collection they 

 contain. The new palm house is lofty; 

 and in it there are some magnificent speci- 

 mens. 



In some of the hot-houses, heat is derived 

 from large stoves of white stoneware, placed 

 inside. They have apertures at the sides 

 for supplying heated air, somewhat resem- 

 bling the Polmaise system. They are 

 adapted for burning wood, and appear to 

 have been in use for many years. The 

 state of the weather required them to be 

 hard at work when I had the opportunity 

 of seeing them. 



In the Ecole de Botanique, the plants are 

 named on different coloured labels ; Red, 

 indicating plants used in medicine ; Green, 

 alimentary ; Blue, those employed in the 

 arts ; Yellow, ornamental ; and Black, poi- 

 sonous plants. I may here mention that 

 M. Neumann, who has the superintendence 

 of the plant houses, was for some time in 

 the Mauritius. He informed us that the 

 Aerides odoratum is there used as tea, a 

 very few leaves being sufficient for infu- 

 sion. I thought it might be employed 

 merely for imparting a flavor to the tea ; 

 but he said they used the Areides leaves 

 without employing any other along with 

 them. 



Gardens of the Luxembourg. — We pro- 

 ceeded to these gardens, March 5th, to 

 hear the lecture on pruning, by M. Hardy, 

 at 8 A.M., in the open ground. M. Hardy 

 delivers two lectures every week, free to 

 the public, on pruning, grafting, planting, 

 and in short, everything connected with the 

 management of fruit trees, finishing the 

 course in the end of April. He has gene- 

 rally from 300 to 400 hearers, among whom 

 are young men employed in the Luxem- 

 bourg Gardens, the Jardin des Plantes, 

 and other establishments, by permission of 



