642 Notes ayid Reflections during a Tour : — 



diable for moving orange trees, a large cast-iron roller for the 

 roads, and some rude agricultural implements. Adjoining 

 these offices is the kitchen-garden, containing perhaps 2 aci^es 

 within the walls. The soil is sandy and very poor ; it requires 

 constant watering: during the summer season, and the water is 

 raised by a horse-wheel from a deep well in the centre. Ihe 

 surrounding walls are about 10 ft. high, of stone, and covered 

 with a wooden trellis, on which pear trees are trained, chiefly in 

 the fan manner, but not neatly. The trees had very little fruit 

 on them, which, considering that the borders were cropped and 

 the soil soft and deep, was not to be wondered at. There was 

 a considerable breadth of red alpine strawberry, and the walks 

 were, for the most part, edged with common sorrel. The 

 asparagus was in rows between 2 and 3 ft. apart, but less 

 strong than might have been expected, probably from want of 

 manure. Plenty of artichokes and kidneybeans. 



On what may be called the garden front of the house was 

 an open avenue of grass, perhaps 1 50 ft. wdde and on each side 

 was a wood, in some places open like a grove, and in others 

 thicker like an artificial plantation. In the thick parts the 

 Pin de Bourdeaux (Plnus maritima), which the gardener 

 informed us was greatly to be preferred to the Pin d'Ecosse 

 (P. sylvestris) or the Sapin epicea (^^bies commiinis), because 

 shrubs and grass grew much better under it, and the cones, 

 which are thick and from 6 to 8 in. long, made an excellent fuel 

 for the poor, being picked up by them as they fell from the 

 trees, so that the proprietor of the wood sustained no injury. 

 There are various walks, straight and winding, both in the 

 woods and in the grove. In the latter, near the house, are 

 several swings of different kinds, very completely equipped, for 

 ladies and gentlemen ; and roundabouts, which the gardener 

 informed us were much used by the younger part of the family. 

 There are also a skittle-ground, a place for playing at bowls, and 

 a sort of rustic house containing a table nearly as large as a bil- 

 liard table, but fitted up like a bagatelle board, for playing at 

 trou madame. These contrivances for amusement seemed to be 

 very judiciously placed under the shade of the trees, which were 

 at the same time so lofty, naked-stemmed, and far apart, as to 

 create or admit a gentle cooling breeze. It was now near 

 noon, and a very warm day; no one was taking amusement 

 in the grove, but a billiard table in the house was in use by a 

 party of gentlemen. Directly in front of the house, on the 

 centre of the grass avenue just mentioned is a meridien d 

 detonation^ the cannon 3 ft. long. Beyond the wood there is 

 a small meadow with winding walks, a VAnglaise^ which we 

 looked at over the turf fence, but did not enter. 



