368 THE PARKS AND GARDENS OP PARIS. [Chap. XXI. 



results could be attained with the Peach in many of the southern 

 parts of England and Ireland, particularly if its culture were 

 made a speciality of, as it is in France. Indeed, some of our sea- 

 shore districts would seem to be more favourable for Peach-culture 

 than the neighbourhood of Paris. When cultiyators devote them- 

 selves entirely to a subject, they soon learn all its wants, and, more- 

 over, attend to them at the right moment. It is, of course, unfair 

 to expect as much from gardeners concerned with a great variety 

 of subjects, and often without good appliances for the culture of 

 any. 



It is a matter for regret that public attention has been to some 

 extent called away from the many uses and advantages of walls 

 in our climate, and that we have made no progress in protecting 

 or managing wall-trees corresponding with our advances in other 

 respects. Some persons have gone so far as to say that garden 

 walls ought to be abolished altogether. One cannot believe that 

 such people can ever have seen the excellent results produced by 

 well-managed garden walls — results as beautiful as profitable. 

 Why, even if we could erect glass-houses by the economical aid of 

 a magic wand, the good fruit-grower would still find uses for a 

 large extent of wall-surface. As things are at present, all should 

 aim at greater success in the protection and management of wall- 

 trees. Our chief want of success now is due to not preserving 

 the flowers and tender young leaves from the sleet, cold rains, and 

 frost, during the cold and changeable spring common to northern 

 France and the British Isles. 



