isoith a List of Planls exhibited. 421 



agreeably surprised, both by the variety and the distribu- 

 tion of the plants on sale. In the lower part of the fair 

 were disposed the more delicate and exotic vegetables; above 

 these, the hardy and ornamental shrubs and trees; and on the 

 boulevards were assembled the stems of olive trees and mul- 

 berries, and trunks of elms and other forest trees '\\\ faisceaux 

 [bundles] of various sizes and forms. This disposition, 

 ordered by the mayor, was the more remarkable, as the 

 ground gradually rises from the Place Noailles to the 

 boulevards. 



Some of the hardy plants and trees were in moderately 

 good order, but many had, doubtless, never been moved since 

 their first transplanting from the seed-bed ; and some of the 

 indigenous species, as Pinus halepensis, Globularia Alypum, 

 and others, had evidently been extracted at once from the 

 woods and heaths. In general, the roots were in the worst 

 possible stcite for planting ; many, even, had been carefully 

 washed and cleaned ; yet the venders were indignant at my 

 doubts as to their growing on replantation. The appearance 

 of the exotics marked likewise a degree of cultivation by no 

 means advanced. The succulent plants were in a state of 

 hydropsy, and the rest phthisical and unhealthy. I regret, 

 for the honour of Marseillois gardening, to be obliged to con- 

 fess that the best collection, both as to the health, variety, 

 and rareness of the species, had been brought by sea from 

 Genoa.* 



I proceed to the particular description of the articles. 

 Fine elms from 8 ft. to 10 ft. high and thick in proportion^ 

 fetched about 20(f. sterling each. They were all grafted 

 close to the root with quick-growing and elegant varie- 

 ties, and were principally destined for public walks and 

 avenues. The nurseryman, for a small remuneration, insures 

 their existence for three years. This is usual for the public 

 walks, which, when created or renewed, are farmed from the 

 town-councils by some neighbouring nurseryman. He en- 

 gages at the same time to prune the trees, and the product 

 of the pruning is sent to the hospitals. These trees are 

 better pruned in the south than in the north of France, 

 which I attribute to the experience acquired in the annual 

 and systematic dressing of the olive trees and mulberries. 



* The backwardness of the south in comparison with the north of 

 Europe, both in the science and the practice of gardening, is a fact not to 

 be denied. From this general condemnation I must, however, except the 

 Genoese, and perhaps the Catalonians, as far as regards culinary horticul- 

 ture : but, in all these countries, too little attention is paid to the varieties 

 of the fruits they cultivate ; they are mostly of a very inferior character. 



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