Chap. XX.] ANGERS. 345 



pretty. They were planted a few inches inside the box edging, 

 and between it and lines of handsome pyramidal Pears, and, 

 as usual, chiefly to fill up neatly and permanently a space that 

 otherwise could not be usefully occupied. 



Angers. — This famous old town is known almost everywhere 

 for its many and large nursery-gardens. It is a fine climate, this 

 of Anjou — so genial as to develop the Tea-plant in perfect health 

 out of doors, and with sun enough to spice the air with the 

 fragrance of that noble evergreen, Magnolia grandiflora, which 

 may be seen used as a promenade-tree in the place immediately 

 outside the main entrance to the nurseries of M. A. Leroy. There 

 are many large specimens and lines of this plant in these very 

 extensive nurseries. The Camellia does perfectly well in the open 

 air, and is grown to an enormous extent, nearly two acres of 

 ground being devoted to the production of young plants, 25,000 

 being grafted every year. Many other trees ard plants are 

 propagated in great quantity — Pears for example. Of one single 

 variety, Easter Beurre, the enormous number of 40,000 plants are 

 grafted annually. Of Duchesse d'Angouleme, 25,000 are yearly 

 required ; . of Williams's Bon Chretien, 25,000 ; that excellent 

 Pear, Louise Bonne d'Avranches, is also required to the extent 

 of 25,000 annually ; and Doyenne d'Alenpon to 20,000 plants — 

 so that the number of one kind of Pear grown is alone sufficient to 

 form a nursery of itself. Observe the enormous number of Easter 

 Beurre (Doyenne d'Hiver) required. This is the Pear which we 

 import from France in winter. In the region around Paris this 

 kind must be grown against sunny walls. It is folly to attempt 

 its culture in any other fashion in England. Quantities of this 

 fruit are sent from Paris to Eussia, where it commands a very 

 high price. 



Fifty workmen are sometimes employed in budding here. The 

 fruit-trees are budded as we bud Eoses, and those in which the 

 bads fail are grafted in spring. In this way a year is gained. 

 There is a splendid collection of pyramid pears grafted on the 

 Quince stock, many of them of great size and perfect symmetry, 

 the ground being rich and deep, and perfectly suited to the 

 Quince. Every kind of fruit sold or recognised as a variety of 

 any merit is grown here ; Pears to the number of 1,028 varieties; 

 Vines, 550 distinct varieties ; Apples, BOO varieties ; Peaches, 250, 



