JVotice of the Garden of Fromont. 83 



Art. JX. — JVotice* concerning the. Garden of Fromont, translated 

 for the American Journal of Science, from the Annales de Vln- 

 stitute Hart: cole de Fromont, for April, 1829; by Jacob Por- 

 ter, M. D. 



The Garden of Fromont contains a hundred and thirty arpfents 

 inclosed. Situated in the district of Ris, on the road from Fontain- 

 bleu, six leagues from Paris, it extends from the great road to the 

 Seine and overlooks a large and fertile valley, which is watered by 

 this river, in front of the forest of Senart. The ground, for two 

 thirds of its extent, descends rapidly to the north. All the upper 

 part is good soil for grain, mellow and a little sandy. At a little 

 depth is found the plastic cla}"-, beneath which is a bed of sand or 

 marly chalk, in which lie blocks of millstone. The lower part is 

 good soil for rye, of little depth, resting on a bed of river sand, 

 •through which the waters of the Seine are infiltrated and rise when 

 the river is high. This alternate and frequent motion of the subter- 

 ' ranean -waters supplies a little the dryness of the soil, and favors the 

 growth of the large trees. Some small springs, fortunately situated 

 in the upper part of the garden, are sufficient for the purposes of 

 cultivation, and contribute to the beauty of the scenery. The park 

 of Fromont, planted only twenty one years since, presents fine 

 masses of trees and shrubs of every description. The scenery, in 

 the interior, is simple and natural. The external views are rich 

 and extensive ; and, as the inclosures are seen from scarcely any 

 point, the country appears to far greater advantage from the garden 

 than the best drawings can represent it. One may observe very 

 considerable masses of evergreens, of cedars of Lebanon in great 

 numbers and very flourishing; and, on the downs, at the north, near 

 the manor, is a very fine specimen of the true larch of Caramania, 

 raised from seeds brought to France by the naturalist Olivier, who 

 describes it in the third volume of his travels in the Ottoman em- 

 pire, Egypt and Persia. This fine cone-bearing tree began to fur- 

 nish seeds in 1826, by means of which it may be multiplied in- 

 definitely. 



* Although this is a (iescription of a local oltject, it contains many interesting and 

 instructive facts and views wlsich are of general application, and may suggest many 

 useful hints to American:*. — Ed. 



