INTRODUCTION. 



" And let it appeare that lie doth not change his Oountiy Manners for those of 

 Forraigne Parts : But only prick in some Flowers of that he hath Learned ahroad 

 into the Customes of his own country." — Bacon's Essay on Travel. 



This book originated as follows : when some years ago the author 

 first went to Paris, he was privileged to note in the Times 

 anything of importance with reference to horticulture that might 

 be observed in that city and its neighbourhood interesting from 

 an English point of view. Upon some of the points noted a 

 lengthy correspondence arose, which (like most discussions) not 

 being calculated to point to any definite conclusions, he was led 

 to embody his notes upon the various subjects in the form of a 

 book. At first the questions discussed were of purely horticultural 

 interest, such as the extensive and skilful cultivation of hardy 

 fruit-trees in France which has made fruit so good and plentiful 

 in that country and led to its being so largely exported ; the 

 remarkable culture of Asparagus round Paris ; the system by 

 which in a harsh climate the French growers supply so well not 

 only their own markets but those of many other cities with excellent 

 salads throughout the winter and spring j the cultivation in the 

 market-gardens round Paris, in which at least threefold more 

 produce is gathered than from similar extent of garden-ground 

 elsewhere ; the very curious growth of Mushrooms beneath Paris, 

 which had, till then, not been described or illustrated. With the 

 idea of the book, however, came a feeling that the great system of 

 public gardens formed of recent years in Paris, the many squares, 

 the vast series of tree-planted streets and avenues, and generally 

 that public gardening which has made New Paris, might be dis- 

 cussed with profit at a time when our own cities are so much 



