FRUIT AND KITCHEN GARDENS NEAR PARIS. 



201 



trees against a south aspect, at 6 or 8 feet apart ; and, as 

 they grow, incline their stems and branches westward or east- 

 ward, but not both ways ? 



Peaches trained en cordon horizontal, like the vines at 

 Thomery, may succeed for some time ; but the plan is not likely 

 to be at all suitable for the climate of England. 



The Thomery method of training the Vine is exhibited here, 

 and, I believe, specimens of every mode of training practised 

 in France, may be seen in a more less advanced state at Rouen. 

 The Pyramid Pear-trees have their branches more thinned out 

 than is generally the case about Paris ; and more in accordance 

 with what I should consider necessary for admitting sufficient 

 sun and air in the climate of England. 



I observed a cheap construction of wall for fruit-trees, which 

 I have no doubt might be advantageously adopted in cases where 

 the erection of brick or stone walls would not be once thought 

 of. The wall to which I allude has a stone foundation carried up 

 a little way above the surface ; the rest is composed of a mixture 

 of clay, straw, and a little chalk. It is about 18 inches thick, 

 and 10 feet high, surmounted by a slate coping, projecting se- 

 veral inches. This wall has been built six or seven years, and 

 is in good condition, with a fair surface, against which I have 

 no doubt fruit-trees will find themselves very comfortably si 

 tuated. 



Horticulturists who may have an opportunity of visiting the 

 garden at Rouen will not be disappointed; and under the 

 scientific superintendence of M. Du Breuil, it will doubtless 

 become more and more interesting. I again availed myself of 

 that gentleman's kind invitation to see the Garden on my return 

 from Paris ; and my first impressions of the excellence of its ar- 

 rangements were fully confirmed. I must add, the great atten- 

 tion bestowed by M. Du Breuil in explaining these arrange- 

 ments deserves my best acknowledgments. 



I left Rouen, March 2nd, by the 11 o'clock train for Paris. 

 The frost still continued, and the ground could only be worked 

 where well exposed to the sun's rays. The vineyards seen from 

 the railroad were not dressed, nor even pruned. The stakes 

 pulled up in autumn were lying in parcels on the ground, in 

 general piled horizontally between two uprights ; but in some 

 instances they were placed upright with the end uppermost 

 which had been in the ground the preceding summer. 



In some of these vineyards, early Peas are sown between the 

 rows of vines in December, and are usually far advanced by the 

 beginning of March ; but this season none were to be seen above 

 ground. 



