PUBLIC NURSERIES OF THE CITY OE PARIS. 147 



Fig. 56. 



many otlier great houses are in the garden, besides a large 

 field of pits and frames, the reader will agree that it would 

 be out of the question to examine each subject, particularly 

 when it is stated that there are nearly 400 kinds of palms 

 alone in this establishment. Though it is essentially a 

 business garden, and one in which an almost innume- 

 rable host of plants have to be annually developed, no 

 slovenliness of arrangement or culture is apparent in any 

 part. 



Seldom indeed do we see such efficient economy of space 

 in gardens as is the rule in these houses. Under the benches 

 are packed quantities of Caladiums, Fuchsias, Cannas, and 

 other plants that may be efficiently preserved in such places 

 in winter ; and even after the great Arums, &c., are potted 

 off in spring, they are placed underneath for a short time, 

 every available inch being taken advantage 

 of. Some of the houses are large lean-to^s, 

 and instead of the back wall being left naked, 

 or with one shelf placed against it at the 

 top, there is a series of shelves one above 

 another, six altogether, and on these a 

 multitude of plants are accommodated — 

 Coleuses, &c., in the warm houses ; Lan- 

 tanas, and the like, in the cool. They 

 keep well on these during the winter, and, 

 if drawn a little or discoloured, the mischief 

 is soon counteracted by a sojourn of a few 

 weeks in the frames in spring. In the large 

 span-roofed curvilinear houses, with a nar- 

 row passage through the centre, there is 

 a series of shelves affixed to irons on each 

 side of the central pathway, and on these 

 great numbers of plants are stored, so that 

 every space is taken advantage of without 

 in the slightest degree interfering with the 

 health of the plants, which is truly admira- 

 ble. But doubtless it is necessary thus to 

 economize space, for the enormous number 

 of nearly three million of plants is annually furnished by this 



L 2 



Shelves for storing 

 bedding plants along 

 the central passages 

 of the span-roofed 

 houses in the Jardin 

 Fleuriste. 



