±.y2 HORTICULTURAL TOUR. 



It has lost, to some extent, the eharacteristics of the En- 

 glish style bestowed on it by Blaikie; but the serpentine 

 walks, the elumps of evergreens^ the rock-work, and the 

 English-looking hot-houses still remain. The gardener 

 seeming cautious and dry in his answers, we made our vi- 

 Mt a short one. 



Garden ofM. Boursault. 

 We next drove to Rue Blanche, No. 20, and saw the 

 tasteful villa and garden of M. Boursault. This gentle- 

 man, we understand, made his fortune by contracting for 

 the cleaning of the streets of Paris ; and what was gained 

 by commendable industry, he now enjoys not only in a 

 pleasing and rational way, but with all the correct taste 

 which might be expected in the cultivated mind of a peer, 

 but which does not always accompany nobility. The boun- 

 daries are rather circumscribed ; but the lawn, the altees, the 

 terraces, the grove, are all well proportioned, and well ar- 

 ranged, so as to give the appearance of space where it is 

 wanted, and to disguise or hide objects which should not 

 be seen. In short, M. Boursault has, in this spot, prac- 

 tically illustrated the excellent precepts of the English 

 bard : 



" Let not each beauty every where be spied, 

 Where half the skill is decently to hide : 

 He gains all points who pleasingly confounds, 

 Surprizes, varies, and conceals his bounds." 



Some of the large trees, particularly a weeping-willow on 

 the lawn near the house, are admirable specimens ; and the 

 groves and borders contain many rare foreign species of 

 shrubs, which at once attract and delight the botanical eye. 

 A very large Andromeda arborea may be mentioned as 

 irorthy of notice; and likewise a Hydrangea quercifolia, of 

 uncommon vigour 



