879 HORTICULTURAL TOUR. 



garden they are disposed with so much taste, and so well 

 interspersed with oleanders, double-flowered myrtles, and 

 sweet bays, that upon the whole they produce a very plea- 

 sing appearance. These orange-trees were kept at St 

 Cloud during the domination of Buonaparte, and were 

 brought thither by orders of the present King. We were 

 rather disappointed at being told, that the orange-flowers, 

 even in this royal garden, and under the nose of his Most 

 Christian Majesty, are farmed to confectioners and perfu- 

 mers, whose servants have step ladders at hand, for gather- 

 ing them as they appear, and who pay a sum equal to 

 about L. 200 a-year for the privilege ! The other long 

 terrace walk, next to the Quai de Tuileries, and command- 

 ing a view of the Seine, is equally worthy of admiration. 

 The natural slope of the ground renders its elevation more 

 prominent ; but all its proportions, as well as its decorations, 

 both architectural and arboreous, are well managed. We 

 are told that it was the favourite promenade of Buonaparte, 

 and of Marie-Louise and her son ; but the present royal 

 family seldom use it : indeed, when we walked along, there 

 was not a Frenchman upon it, although many hundreds 

 were strolling through the lower walks, or lolling on reed- 

 chairs reading the gazettes. 



The flowers in the borders are few in number, consider- 

 ed as botanical species, but they are planted in copious 

 profusion : they are all of the gaudy order, being intended 

 merely for show. The object, and we presume to think 

 the legitimate object here, is to keep the parterres always 

 gairish with brilliant blossoms of different colours. The 

 flowers of May, June, and July were now supplanted by 

 those of the autumn months ; particularly, asters of many 

 hues, French marigolds, balsams, zinnias, marvel of Peru, 

 and the double-flowered Ilelianthus multiflorus. Many 



