NOTES IN AND ABOUT PARIS. 



225 



Fig. 2076. Entrance to Baron Rothschild's 

 Estate. 



attractive, but if one can enter through the 

 iron gate into the court yard behind, there 

 is often a beautiful garden to be seen, as 

 shown in this picture. 



On September 29th, while we were still 

 in the city, we were favored with an invita- 

 tion from Col. G. B. Brackett, who had 

 charge of the fruit exhibit of the United 

 States at the Fair, to join a party and visit 

 Baron Alphonse Rothschild's estate at Fer- 

 rieres, twenty miles from Paris. (Fig. 2076.) 

 We had a most delightful day in that splen- 

 did estate, which covers an area of six by 

 twenty miles, the greater part being used as 

 a game preserve, with deer and other ani- 

 mals, as well as wild birds in great abun- 

 dance. Twelve hundred acres of this is 

 maintained as a most perfect park, where a 

 vast number of trees and shrubs have a 

 home. Great masses of rhododendrons, 

 laurels, yews, hollies and many other tender 

 things grow there, healthy and strong. A 

 very large clump of cedar of Lebanon 

 formed a lovely picture near the mansion, 

 with its dark green heavy foliage and the 

 long leaves hanging from the branches were 

 very beautiful. The mansion, as shown in 

 the picture, is very fine, and many fine 

 trees and shrubs are planted near it. 

 (Fig. 2078.) 



This park is most beautifully kept and 

 everything is in the highest state of cultiva- 

 tion, thousands of shrubs and trees and 

 nothing in the least deformed or unshapely, 

 and plenty of room allowed for all to grow 

 in their natural forms and habits. The 

 beautiful lake near the mansion, shown in 

 Fig. 2077, is also kept in perfect order and is 

 skimmed several times a day by men in 

 boats to keep the surface bright and clear 

 of fallen leaves, which are so numerous in 

 September. This lake is the home of the 

 wild water birds in the park, as are also 

 the ponds near by, and adds a great deal to 

 the beauty of the park. The tropical plants 

 and large flower beds about the mansion are 

 very effective. 



About four hundred men were employed 

 on these grounds and all parts of the 

 grounds were in the most perfect order 

 everywhere. There was a good aviary with 

 several buildings constructed to suit the 

 birds. The fruit garden was very attractive; 

 forty men were employed and we saw a 

 a great collection of pears, peaches, nectar- 

 ines and apples, mostly in full fruit and very 

 tempting to hungry travelers. Many trees 

 were trained against walls, while others 

 were grown as cordons, espaliers and pyra- 

 mids, and nowhere could a thing be seen 



Fig. 2077. Glimpse of Lake and Cedars. 



