lUKis. 487 



to be found, and the latter was not yet ripe. — In peaches 

 the French market most decidedly surpassed the English. 

 The quantity of this fruit presented for sale toward the 

 middle of August appeared surprisingly great. It was 

 chiefly from Montreuil, and in general in the most perfect 

 state. Although ripe, scarcely a single fruit had suffered 

 the slightest injury from the attacks of insects. This fact 

 affords satisfactory proof that the plastered walls, being 

 smooth and easily cleaned, are unfavourable to the breed- 

 ing and lodging of such insects as often infest our rougher 

 fruit-walls. The fine state of the fruit also shews the un- 

 common care which must be bestowed by the industrious 

 inhabitants of Montreuil to prevent its receiving bruises in 

 the gathering or carriage. The principal kinds in the 

 market were the small mignonne ; the large mignonne, 

 with some of the excellent subvariety called Belle Bauce ; 

 the yellow alberge ; the Bellegarde or Gallande ; the Malta 

 or Italian peach ; the red Madeleine, or De Courson ; and 

 the early purple. The peaches in Covent Garden, at the 

 early period of the season at which I viewed it, were of 

 course wholly produced under glass.— Melons appeared in 

 great profusion at Paris. In the Marche des Innocens 

 and Marche St Honore the kinds were rather select, chief- 

 ly different varieties of Canteloup. These were not sold 

 at so cheap a rate as I should have expected ; ripe and 

 well-flavoured canteloups costing 2, 3 or 4 francs each. But 

 in almost every street the marchands de melons presented 

 themselves ; some occupying stalls ; some moving about with 

 brouettes or long wheel-barrows, and others with hampers 

 on their backs, supported on crochets. In general those 

 sold in the streets were much cheaper (perhaps not more 

 than half the price of the others), but of coarse qua- 

 lity, such as would scarcely be thought fit for use in 

 England. The fruit is frequently long kept ; and in 



