HYERES IN 1S04. 



157 



from the Mistral, which with unabated fur\- rushes 

 unchecked through the gap in the mountains near Toulon. 

 Continuous drought is also a serious drawback and cannot 

 a]wa^'s be remedied b\- irrigation. Nevertheless there 

 is a considerable difference of climate between H\'eres 

 and the rest of Provence and even Toulon which lies 

 so close at hand; for these are much more exposed to 

 the Mistral. In former times the traveller coming 

 from the west and seeing for the first time Palms, and 

 Orange trees laden with their golden fruit, imagined 

 himself transported to the gates of Paradise. Old books 

 of travel are full of praises of Ih-eres. As for instance 

 tliat of Aubin-Louis Millin, "Conservateur des medailles, 

 des pierres gravees et des antiques de la Bibliotheque 

 imperiale", who in 1X04 travelled in tlie South ol France 

 commissioned Iia the Minister Chastal. ''I today visited 

 the garden of Monsieur Fille 

 (writes Millin). Thousands 

 of flowers surround his 

 house. Tuberoses (Poly- v 

 aiithcs tuberosa), Mimosa 

 (J/ Farnesiand), and Jasmine 

 ( y.Saiiilidc) perfume 

 the air witli their '*-' 

 divine fragrance. The 

 gardens once praised by singers 

 and poets — those of Alcine 

 and Armide, created b)' the 

 fertile genius of Ariosto and 

 Tasso — however vividly pictured in our 



Cvlinas 

 /fvjiocistls. 



