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REPORT ON THE 



There were several varieties of Apples named Reinette Franche ; 

 the one so called at Havre is the same as the Reinette Franche 

 Grauwe of the Dutch, and is an excellent late dessert Apple. 



Of vegetables, Salsify and Scorzonera were very plentiful ; so 

 much so that it may be inferred the demand must be much 

 greater than in London. Cabbages and Savoys were rather 

 indifferent, but Brussels Sprouts were good. The excellence of 

 this green is certainly not sufficiently appreciated in England, 

 where it is apt to degenerate in many situations, but in others 

 there is proof of its seeds having been saved for years as genuine 

 as any imported from the neighbourhood of Brussels ; the plants 

 producing abundantly jets, or sprouts, as round and compact as 

 they possibly could be. 



The weather at Havre was quite as cold as that experienced 

 on the other side of the Channel — clear and frosty, with keen 

 north-east wind. To this the fruit and vegetable market at 

 Havre was much exposed, it being more adapted for coolness in 

 summer than shelter in winter. The women, sitting at their 

 stalls, had small charcoal fires in earthenware pans on their laps. 

 It appeared that, in consequence of the substance of which these 

 open chaufferettes were composed being a slow conductor of 

 heat, they could be supported on the clothes without danger of 

 the latter taking tire ; but burning charcoal, placed in such a 

 position, the individuals respiring almost directly over it, must 

 have very pernicious effects. The inhaling of carbonic acid 

 under such circumstances cannot be avoided ; in fact, its pro- 

 fusion was indicated by the frequency of abrupt stifling coughs, 

 and the bad consequences may be considered as more than a 

 counterbalance to the comfort. But the carbonic acid gas from 

 dry beech wood, burned in leaky stoves in rooms, and evolved 

 so pure as to be unseen — but not the less insidious— is a much 

 more dangerous affair ; and the circumstance is of too frequent 

 occurrence in France. 



I went from Havre to Rouen by diligence, March 1st. The 

 vast number of apple-trees along the sides of the road, and in 

 single rows between the fields, are, I believe, chiefly cider varie- 

 ties. Although these trees are at considerable distances from 

 each other, and have consequently plenty of air, yet they are ge- 

 nerally covered with moss even to the tips of the branches. The 

 soil does not appear to be wet, and it is cultivated close to the 

 trees. It seems to be in many places a light-coloured clayey 

 loam, but not too stiff ; and frequently it is very calcareous. The 

 subsoil in the latter case must be dry enough, but this circum- 

 stance does not appear to prevent the trees from being infested 

 with moss. It has been stated by some in this country, that 

 they have cleared their trees of moss by syringing them with 



