214 THE PARKS AND GARDENS OP PARIS. [Chap. XIV. 



spoil ground that might be used in a beautiful manner. Given 

 the largest and most varied garden in Europe, it would be easy 

 to suggest a hundred beautiful aspects of vegetation not illustrated 

 in it. Therefore it is a mistake in all ways to illustrate in our 

 own day the gardening of the past, even on a small scale. 



The aspect of the French-garden side of the Little Trianon 

 Palace may to our advantage be compared with what is called 

 the English-garden side. This side of the Little Trianon well 

 shows the superiority of simplicity and a carpet of grass, as com- 

 pared with the very different materials often seen before houses. 

 There are some noble trees among those on the little lawn, 



Grand Trianon: one of the results of the "Genius of Le Nitre!" (,Hachette.) 



notably a very fine spreading Sophora. The open glade of grass 

 allows the forms of the trees to be seen and enjoyed, and the 

 effect is very good. The grass is somewhat rougher and more 

 tossed in appearance than it is in faet,'but that must be laid to 

 the charge of the artist — artists not liking shaven surfaces. 



There is very little artificial rock in the Little Trianon, and 

 that little is constructed so as to be useless for plants. There are 

 however several small rocky bridges, with shrubs trained over 

 them. Such might be made with advantage in gardens with 

 running water. They could readily be formed so that water-side 

 and Alpine plants and rock-shrubs might be well grown on and near 



