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PART III. 



MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



Art. I. Foreisn Notices, 



FRANCE. 



Paris, June 6. 1829. — We have had a severe winter and a backward 

 spring. The common laurel and the fig, where they were not covered, have 

 suffered severely ; but the Magnolia grandiflora has stood well. Admiral 

 TschitchigofF, as you know, has a great many at Sceau, not one of which is 

 injured. The elm trees in the Champs Elysdes are more than usually covered 

 with seeds this season, which are now ripe, falling down, and might be swept 

 up by sackfuls. RobJnia Pseudacacia is now beautifully in flower, and in 

 the evenings perfumes the air of the public walks where it abounds. There 

 is a great appearance of most kinds of fruit all round Paris : apricot, cherry, 

 plum, and pear trees are almost overloaded ; and the vines in most places 

 where I have travelled show so great a prospect of grapes, that the vigne- 

 rons are crying out that they will be ruined if the crop turns out as it 

 promises. 



1 do not recollect to have seen our method of cultivating early peas 

 practised in England. The market-gardeners place their rows east and west, 

 and raise a little ridge of earth on the north side of the row, which pro- 

 tects them from the north winds, and receives, at a more powerful angle, 

 the sun's rays ; by which more heat is reflected on the plants in the day- 

 time, and at the same time more absorbed, to be radiated on them at night. 

 When the plants show their second blossom, the top is pinched off, which 

 throws the force of vegetation upon the forming pods, hastens the ma- 

 turity of the crop, and increases the size of the peas. The operation 

 is called chatrer. The crop is generally removed by the end of May, after 

 which mangold wurzel is frequently sown ; but sometimes rows of potatoes 

 are planted between the rows of peas. Turnips round Paris are generally 

 sown after winter barley, which is put in the ground early in autumn, and 

 the crop cut green, for cows, in March, April, and May. Madame la Com- 

 tesse de Bruce is dead, and her place and extensive collection of plants are 

 now to be sold. Yours, sincerely, — Thomas Blaikie. 3. Rue des Vignes, 

 prh la JBarriere de Chaillot. 



Paris, Jiine 14. 1829. — I did not see any thing very remarkable in flowers 

 at M. Boursault's. For rare and curious ones, I think we far excel the 

 French in general : those they do know, I believe they bring to greater per- 

 fection. Thunbergk alata and Erythrina crista galli are not known here at 

 all. M. Boursault had a Wistaria in flower outside of his green-house, on an 

 eastern exposure (I think); it appeared rather sickly, the leaves were small 

 and pale, and the flowers, though large, were not of a fine colour : the gar- 

 dener gave me a bunch. He had beautiful ixias, and his geraniums were 

 English. In the garden I remarked his rhododendrons one mass of bloom; 

 and an elegant Austrian rose, or briar, in full bloom, overhanging some rock- 

 work. I had been to M. Fion's before I received your letters; ***** had 

 told him she would bring me. He pointed out the coup d'ceil which you 



