PARIS. 491 



cale are once introduced at table, when their resemblance 

 to asparagus is ascertained, and their excellence under- 

 stood, they will soon form a favourite dish at Paris, particu- 

 larly when forced in the winter and early spring months. 

 The mode of cultivation practised in England, and the very 

 simple means of forcing, are now made known to the Pari- 

 sians, in the recent editions of the " Bon Jardinier," under 

 the article Chou marln. 



I may here remark, that even in the principal market- 

 gardens of Paris, there is little or no forcing properly so call- 

 ed. Peas, haricots, and other legumes, are forwarded merely 

 by sowing them on borders next to a south wall, with a 

 gentle slope forward. Such borders are called colieres, 

 and their produce the primcurs of the season. Some few 

 market-gardeners almost confine their attention to the pro- 

 duction of primeurs ; and the enhanced prices which they 

 receive for asparagus, lettuce, new potatoes, and similar ar- 

 ticles, amply reimburse them. Still they work only with 

 sunk frames (baches) having hot-beds within them ; and but 

 to a small extent with these. They are thus, however, and 

 by means of couches sourdes or common hot-beds, enabled to 

 raise numerous seedling plants of the different kinds of es- 

 culent vegetables more early than others ; and by planting 

 these out in the borders, and carefully sheltering them du- 

 ring the cold weather of early spring, by means of cloches 

 des couches, or straw screens and covers, they produce ve- 

 getables fit for the market several weeks before their neigh- 

 bours. Some of the best of these primeur gardens are si- 

 tuate at the old quarries near Conflens, on the banks of the 

 Seine, where the borders enjoy the reflected heat of the 

 mural rocks. 



I take this opportunity of mentioning, that a wheel-hoe 

 (ratissoirc a roue), somewhat similar to the one which we 

 saw at Brussels (described at p. 297.), is in use in many of 



