Chap. XIV.] THE GARDENS OF VERSAILLES. 211 



Those who have spent any time in the extensive solitudes of 

 geometry at Versailles, and have heen happy enough afterwards 

 to cool their eyes among the rare trees and choice variety of plants 

 of what is called the « Fleuriste," will probably preserve an 

 agreeable souvenir of the spot. It is a little garden cut off from 

 the rest of the Little Trianon grounds, and, like all charming 

 gardens, remarkable by not being "laid out," in the usual sense 

 of the word. Grass, trees, choice plants, a house and walls 



Orangery in the Little Trianon, ■mreathed with Wistaria in Jlewer. 



clad with climbing plants form the elements; the resulting 

 charm is indescribable. It is only a gardener's garden, but if 

 kings were born to wisdom they would prefer it to the stony 

 solitudes generally spread around their homes by thoughtless 

 " landscape-architects." For botanists and all lovers of horticulture 

 this garden has much interest, the collection of Ehododendrons 

 and Azaleas being rich, as well as that of other American shrubs. 

 There are also some remarkable trees in this part of the grounds, 

 among them a grand Pyramidal Oak, a Montezuma Pine, and a 



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