242 Notes and Reflections during a Tour : — 



In the coal districts of England, melons might be raised 

 in the same way at little expense, by passing pipes of hot 

 water under a common garden-wall border of south exposure. 

 The same fire-places might also heat the walls by another set 

 of pipes, which would come into use when heat in the border 

 was not wanted. 



Even the pine-apple might be grown in the open air in 

 France. In some of the market-gardens of Paris, pine-plants 

 in pots, plunged in bark beds, are exposed to the open air 

 during four months of summer and autumn, and they succeed 

 very well. If ever it should become desirable or profitable 

 to cultivate the pine-apple extensively on the Continent, that 

 fruit might be grown by the acre in the coal fields which are 

 ascertained to exist in Provence. A little shade would be 

 necessary in summer, which might be given by vines ; and in 

 winter, the j)ines, being planted in beds, might be protected 

 by straw mats drawn over the frames or trellises on which the 

 vines were ti'ained. As the pine-apple is, or ought to be, kept 

 in a dormant state during a great part of the winter, the dimi- 

 nution of light in consequence of such a covering would not 

 be an insuperable disadvantage ; the more especially as on 

 most days the covering might be removed for a few hours. It 

 is true this mode of supplying heat from below, instead of 

 from the sun, is not very natural ; but nevertheless it has been 

 found to answer in Britain, in the practice of cultivating the 

 pine in bark beds and dung pits ; and it may be safely affirmed 

 that, if the water in the underground pipes were never allowed 

 to exceed a temperature of 80° to 90° Fahrenheit, no danger 

 would ensue. 



We were pleased to find that M. Racine had a small garden 

 library, and was a collector of insects. Among his books are, 

 Le Botaniste CuMvcdeur^ 5 vols. 8vo, Bositr's Mcumd du Jar- 

 diniej; Le Bon Jardinier, Qidntine, and various catalogues and 

 minor works. 



In passing through t/ie marlcet-jplace to the cathedral, on the 

 Sunday morning, we observed but few vegetables, and those 

 not of superioi" quality : coarse green cabbage, a narrow- 

 podded variety of kidneybean, and three varieties of potatoes ; 

 some pears of different sorts, none of which were good; and 

 some apples and plums. We were told that there was much 

 better fruit grown in the gardens of the neighbourhood, but 

 that it was not brought to market; and indeed we found after- 

 wards, in the neighbourhood of the New Marine Baths, ex- 

 cellent peaches, pears, figs. Cantaloup and Honfleur melons, 

 and some grapes. 



The building called the 'Ncx'o Marine Baths is little more 

 than a screen to protect the portion of shore devoted to bath- 



