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FLOWERS OF THE FRENCH RIVIERA, 



By M. HENRY L. DE VILMORIN, F.R.H.S. 

 i\ 



This paper was prepared at the request of the Royal Horti- 

 cultural Society of England, and read at their public meeting 

 of the 28th of March, 1893. It is now reprinted, by permission 

 of the Society, from the August number of their Journal, 

 Vol. XVI., Part 1, pages 80 to 104. 



WINTERING on the Riviera has become such a common feature of 

 modern life so many invalids or pleasure- seekers resort annually 

 to the sun-warmed shores of Hyeres, Cannes, Nice, and Mentone 

 that most educated Englishmen of our days are perfectly 

 familiar with the climate, sights, and produce of Maritime 

 Provence. 



And not only to actual visitors is the floral wealth of the 

 Riviera displayed on the spot, but, thanks to the ever-increasing 

 rapidity and cheapness of the means of transport, immense 

 quantities of cut flowers are despatched daily to the central and 

 northern parts of Europe in mid- winter, to spread and maintain 

 the reputation of the Riviera as the very place to grow flowers 

 out of doors at the time when they become terribly scarce any- 

 where else. 



I will not venture on a ground already well beaten in 

 attempting to describe the beauties of the Var and of the Mari- 

 time Alps, or in contrasting the vigorous and blooming vegetation 

 of the gardens on the Riviera during the colder months of the 



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