36 



THE BOIS DE VINCENNES. 



It contains well designed sheets of water about forty 

 acres in extent; a wide, open plain, about 755 acres, 

 and of wbicb about 284 are devoted to a drill-ground ; 

 between 700 and 800 acres of forest ; 110 of shrub- 

 bery and select plantation; 110 of roads; — in all nearly 

 1800 acres. The same care in keeping, the fine roads 

 and walks, and the breadth of design, which are seen in the 

 Bois de Boulogne, are also seen here, though this is entirely 

 distinct from that as regards plan. But as there is no 

 feature in it that we have not discussed or shall not discuss 

 with more profit elsewhere, a detailed description of it is 

 not given. Opening up the city by means of airy, open 

 roads, little squares, &c,, is of far greater importance than 

 the creation of vast domains outside a city, where people 

 may enjoy a little fresh air once a week or so. 



It has quite a novel feature, in the fruit-garden of the city 

 of Paris, recently formed. This is described at length in 

 another chapter. 



The lake nearest to the fruit- garden and the Avenue 

 Daumesnil entrance is beautifully disposed, and its margins 

 and islands are well planted. To walk completely round it, 

 starting from the neighbourhood of the fruit-garden and re- 

 turning to the same position, will well repay the visitor; 

 few public parks ofi'ering anything so refreshing and agree- 

 able of a warm summer evening. 



A restaurant near one of the lakes illustrates admirably 

 how like conveniences may be introduced into public parks 

 without in the least rendering them objectionable. It com- 

 mands excellent views of the park and water from the groups 

 of trees by which it is hidden, and which perfectly prevent it 

 from obtruding upon the quietness of the park. It would be 

 well if like care were always taken to veil such structures. 

 The restaurant figured on the preceding page is not quite so 

 happily placed, but nevertheless forms a not objectionable 

 feature in the park. 



The Bois de Vincennes contains also the city nursery 

 for herbaceous plants, &c., alluded to in the chapter on 

 the Public Nurseries. 



Cercis australis and Planera acuminata have been tried 



