398 EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE. 



to surpass the admirable and charming diversity, and beauty, 

 and richness, of these embellishments as I have found them all 

 over England ; not unfrequently at the residences of the lower 

 classes, as well as those of the rich and noble. I have found 

 often the humble cottage of the humblest laborer adorned with 

 vines of unsurpassed luxuriance ; the sweetbrier exhaling its 

 delicious odor under the windows, and roses, and geraniums, and 

 syringas, and dahlias, disputing your passage to the door. These 

 are the petted children of his industrious wife and daughters ; 

 and he looks at them with honest pride, and drinks in their odors 

 with the sweeter relish, because they are trained by hands which 

 disdain no useful labor, and can be enjoyed in all their fragrance 

 and beauty without giving pain to a single human being. Bet 

 ter than all this, they are to every passing observer the outward 

 and infallible indications of the industry, frugality, neatness, and 

 good economy, which reign within. 



Wherever circumstances admit of it, every considerable coun 

 try-house in England has likewise its conservatory, in which, at 

 least, the female part of the household shelter those objects of 

 their care, which are too tender to bear exposure ; and find recre 

 ation and keep alive the remembrance of the summer s glories 

 and magnificence, when winter utters his hoarse voice without 

 doors, and commands all that has life to retire before his sweep 

 ing and icy blast. 



2. THE FLOWER GARDENS OF PARIS. THE GARDEN OF 

 PLANTS. Paris is not only distinguished for its beautiful flower 

 markets, but for its beautiful flower gardens, which may be said 

 to be almost unrivalled. The Garden of Plants, so called, in 

 Paris, in extent, in number and variety of plants, in scientific 

 and instructive arrangement, in the perfect condition in which it 

 is kept, and in the extent of its conservatories, is probably un 

 equalled. It is not only completely adapted to botanical instruc 

 tion, but likewise to public recreation, combining with these 

 objects as perfect a Flora as science and taste, aided by the 

 ready patronage of the government, have been able to collect 

 and maintain. The most useful as well as the most ornamental 

 plants may here be found and studied in all their aspects and 

 varieties, and in all their habits and uses. 



