Notice of the Garden of Fromont. 83 
Arr. 1X.—Wotice* concerning the Garden of Fromont, translated 
for the American Journal of Science, from the Annales de ?'In- 
stitute Horticole de Fromont, for April, 1829; by Jacos Por- 
Ter, M. D. 
Tur Garden of Fromont contains a hundred and thirty arpents 
inclosed. Situated in the district of Ris, on the road from Fontain- 
bleu, six leagues from Paris, it extends from the great road to the 
Seine and overlooks a targe and fertile valley, which is watered by 
this river, in front of the forest of Sénart. The ground, for two 
thirds of its extent, descends rapidly to the north. All the upper 
part is good soil for grain, mellow and a little sandy. At a little 
depth is found the plastic clay, beneath which is a bed of sand or 
marly chalk, in which lie blocks of millstone. The lower part is 
good soil for rye, of little depth, resting on a bed of river sand, 
through which the waters of the Seine are infiltrated and rise when 
the river is high. ‘This alternate and frequent motion of the subter- 
tanean waters supplies a little the dryness of the soil, and favors the 
growth of the large trees. Some small springs, fortunately situated 
mm the upper part of the garden, are sufficient for the purposes of 
cultivation, and contribute to the beauty of the scenery. The park 
of Fromont, planted only twenty one years since, presents fine 
masses of trees and shrubs of every description. The scenery, in 
the interior, is simple and natural. The external views are rich 
and extensive; and, as the inclosures are seen from scarcely any 
point, the country appears to far greater advantage from the garden 
than the best drawings can represent it. One may observe very 
Considerable masses of evergreens, of cedars of Lebanon in great 
numbers and very flourishing ; and, on the downs, at the north, near 
the Manor, is a very fine specimen of the true larch of Caramania, 
raised from seeds brought to France by the naturalist Olivier, who 
describes itin the third volume of his travels in the Ottoman em- 
pire, Egypt and Persia. This fine cone-bearing tree began to fur- 
nish seeds in 1826, by means of which it may be multiplied in- 
definitely. 
Rp ge suet Sete eee 
~ Although this isa description of a local object, it contains many interesting and 
Clive facts and views which are of general application, and may suggest many 
*seful hints to Americans.— Ed. 
