Fromont on the Seine. 283 



no preparation of the soil — a scanty supply of manure — and 

 scratching the ground with a common cultivator or plough. 

 We have often heard the remark that imported French trees 

 were far more vigorous and beautiful than any to be obtained 

 at home : a comparison of the common method of cultivation 

 with the French, will show why the trees of the latter are so 

 much more thrifty and well formed, and often preferred by 

 cultivators to American trees. 



We observed quantities of the Cerasus Malaheb, or per- 

 fumed cherry, which is principally used for stocks for the 

 cherry. Great quantities of the Paradise stock are also raised 

 on which apples are budded in order to form dwarf trees. 

 The peaches are budded mostly on the almond stock. Be- 

 sides fruit trees, M. Chatenay also cultivates a fine collection 

 of the established varieties of the rose, and we saw in full 

 bloom, a bed of that admirable one, Madame Desprez; the 

 plants were budded on vigorous stocks, and they were throw- 

 ing up clusters of flowers thirty or forty on each. It is wor- 

 thy of a place in every garden. 



After a tedious walk of three hours, during the heat of one 

 of the warmest days we experienced in Paris, by the invita- 

 tion of M. Chatenay, we regaled ourselves upon the luscious 

 grapes which were now just ripe. At 5 o'clock we reached the 

 city, having occupied the whole day in our visit. 



Froraont on the Seine, the Villa of M. Soulange Bodln^ 

 Sept. \7th. — Fromont is about twenty miles from Paris, and is 

 easy of access by the Orleans and Corbeil Rail-road, one of the 

 stations being only a few rods from the entrance to the grounds. 

 The whole extent of M. Bodin's place is upwards of sixty- 

 four acres, beautifully situated on a gentle declivity, sloping 

 to the Seine. It was first commenced upwards of thirty years 

 ago, and was intended as a school, where every department 

 of gardening could be thoroughly learnt. For a long time, 

 this was carried into efl'ect, and M. Bodin's place was well 

 known as the Institute of Horticulture at Fromont. In con- 

 nection with it a journal was published, called the Annates 

 Ho7'tic6les de Fromont, edited by the proprietor, and contain- 

 ing all the lectures delivered by the professors in the several 

 departments of the establishment. Five volumes were com- 



