136 THE PAEKS AND aAEDBNS OF PARIS. [Chap. IX. 



passing observer. In the centre of each garden there is a long 

 basin and a fountain, the whole being connected and surrounded 

 by flowers and grass. Then on each side of these parterres there 

 is a very wide avenue footway, shaded by two lines of Plane-trees — 

 a road being on each side of the parterres and tree-avenues. For 

 a considerable distance from the Chateau d'Eau, the flower-market 

 that has its head-quarters held there extends down amongst the 

 little railed-in parterres, and the efi'ect is altogether unique. 



Of avenues, the largest and most picturesque is the Avenue du 

 Bois de Boulogne, leading from the Arc de Triomphe to the Bois 

 de Boulogne. The beauty of which avenue-gardening is capable, 

 even in cities, is fairly shown in the engraving of this avenue. 

 The effect is from various points of view very free and graceful, 

 there being considerable variety in the vegetation and ample room 

 in the well-formed footways and roads. There is also considerable 

 breadth — a notable fact in days when large gardens have none ; 

 indeed, the most pleasing feature to anyone caring about garden - 

 design is the ample turf that forms a carpet for the groups and 

 masses of shrubs. Most large cities have opportunities for the 

 formation of avenue-gardens which have hitherto seldom been 

 taken advantage of. 



This handsome avenue was formed in order to put the centre of 

 Paris in communication with the Bois de Boulogne by means of a 

 wide direct road. Half the expense was borne by the State, under 

 the conditions that an iron railing of uniform design was to be 

 constructed along the whole length of the road, that a strip of 

 eleven yards in breadth be left for a garden between this railing 

 and the houses on each side, and further, that no kind of trade or 

 manufacture should be carried on in the houses adjoining. The 

 avenue was made entirely through private lands which were 

 required for the purpose. . Its total length is 1300 yards ; the 

 width 130 yards. It consists of a central drive, seventeen yards 

 wide, of two large side walks, each measuring thirteen yards wide, 

 and of two long pieces of grass with shrubs and flowers. 



The Champs Elysees, the great central avenue of Paris, 

 happily combines the grand avenue and the public garden ; the 

 wide belts of varied shrubs are encircled with the choicest flowers ; 

 the grass spreads out widely here and there ; great clumps of 

 Ehododendrons and trees shroud buildings, not completely to hide 



