PARIS. 351 



from Peru, was by much the finest of the kind we had 

 ever seen. Schotia speciosa from the Cape of Good Hope 

 made a brilliant appearance, being now clothed with its 

 elegant scarlet blossoms. The number of sugar-cane plants 

 (Saccharum officinarum) here cultivated, is considerable ; 

 and they grow very strong, one specimen being now about 

 twelve feet in height. About ten years ago, they could 

 afford to cut so much of the cane, that the chemists belong- 

 ing to the institution amused themselves in extracting the 

 sugar, and actually manufactured a small sugar-loaf, which 

 was presented as a curiosity to the Empress Josephine, 

 then in the zenith of her glory, and deservedly held in 

 esteem as the munificent patroness of elegant horticulture. 

 The large orangerie or green-house was at this time 

 empty and neglected ; at least, it was unadorned by plants, 

 and encumbered only by lumber. How easily might 

 this vast house be rendered ornamental for the summer 

 months, by means of a few showy climbers, led along 

 the columns and rafters, and a few large exotics set out on 

 the floor ! Even festoons of Cobbea scandens, such as we 

 have mentioned at the English Ambassador's, would an- 

 swer the purpose. But it is the custom of the Continent 

 to overlook the appearance of the greenhouse during sum- 

 mer ; and a bad custom exerts its influence even at the ad- 

 mirable Jardin des Plantes. It is certain, that those who 

 could so easily remedy the defect, must have no idea how 

 offensive the appearance is to the eyes of strangers, espe- 

 cially from this country. The plants belonging to this 

 great winter repository are> during the summer months,, 

 sunk , en plei?ie terre, to the brim of the pots, in beds edged 

 with box, so as to resemble border-plants. In this way 

 they require less watering, and are not liable to be over- 

 turned by gusts of wind. The flower-pots have generally 



