THE GARDENS OF ST. CLOUD. 



259 



month of October. Is it necessary to suggest a score of 

 other analogous uses ? Need it be said how tastefully they 

 may be introduced just within the edge of the low choice 

 plantation, or in beds of valuable shrubs on the lawn? Groups 

 of them in the centre of flower-beds would be splendid ; and 

 planted thinly here and there among beds of low-growing 

 subjects — say Saponaria, Mignonette, &c, they would rise 

 above these, and their effect above the surfacing flower would 

 prove very fine indeed. They may be placed in groups or 

 rings around Standard Roses ; they will make the most 

 valuable groups in the mixed border ; and finally, we may 

 make grand beds of them by themselves, or associated with 

 Lilies or Irises. 



St. Cloud, popular as it is, is perhaps one of the most 

 uninteresting gardens known. It is, however, worth seeing, 

 if only to get an idea of how much " the genius of a Le 

 Notre" may do to spoil a place naturally beautiful. The 

 canals, the lines of ugly clipped trees, and every base feature 

 of geometrical gardening are there, but nothing worth 

 remembering as an example. The situation is one of the 

 most beautiful that gardening man could desire, and would 

 be ravishing if tastefully and simply laid 

 out in the natural style. The lamentable 

 effect of clipping the trees is well shown 

 in the plate; it is very evident the poor 

 trees do not like it. It would be difficult 

 to find a more striking example of labour 

 worse than thrown away than that be- 

 stowed on clipping trees in many French 

 gardens. Not only are the trees them- 

 selves robbed of all individual beauty or 

 character, but many noble places are 

 spoiled by their presence. Frequently the 

 trees become hideous from disease conse- 

 quent upon mutilation; and what they are 

 in perfection may be seen by the accompany- 

 ing model tree figured by a professor in one 

 of the best French books on arboriculture. 



Any real necessity for this clipping does not exist. 



s 2 



Fig. 99. 



A French ideal of 

 tree-beauty. 



