Chai'. XL] JAliDlN FLEURISTE AXU NUKSKIUES. 171 



Daumesnil. The stock of spring flowers is not a varied one, ami 

 leaves much to be desired. Where there is so much ground 

 devoted to a speciality, it ought to be well done ; and it is a 

 matter of regret that with so much improvement in other ways a 

 hirge stock of all the really ornamental hardy flowers is not 

 formed. It would be conferring a general benefit if, instead of 

 depending so much on plants requiring expensive stoves and 

 ceaseless trouble for their preservation, the chief gardeners of the 

 city showed what may be done with the hardy plants belonging 

 to our own and similar climates. At present their collections of 



herbaceous plants and spring flowers consist of quantities of 

 ordinary kinds. A dozen years ago there was a greater number 

 of hardy plants grown in Paris gardens than in London. But 

 since then a great impetus has been given to the culture of hardy 

 flowers in England, and now our collections are far richer than 

 any to be found in France, 



The nursery for the Pines and lihododendrons is also in the Bois 

 de Boulogne, near Auteuil, and is about the same size as the 

 hardy-flower nursery. The climate of Paris is not so favourable 

 to the growth of coniferous trees as that of England, and con- 

 sequently to the English visitor tlie Auteuil nursery does not look 



