15 



amphitheatrically one above another to the top of the 

 hills. They give the neighbourhood a picturesque 

 appearance. The soil is generally a deep sandy loam, 

 with here and there a mixture of blue clay, similar to 

 that of Montmatre and Pere la Chaise. IMost of the 

 trees are old, yet their general appearance is healthy^ 

 which the cultivators attribute as much to their being 

 worked upon almond stocks as to the suitability 

 of the soil. Fan-shaped training is usually adopted ; 

 but another form, called Espalier carre," is now 

 coming into vogue. M. Lepere, of Montr euil, claims 

 to be the originator of this system, which, however, 

 is warmly disputed by some others. It appears to 

 be little, if at all, different from the horizontal train- 

 ing which has for many years been practised in Eng- 

 land. As the design of these gardeners is profit, it 

 may readily be supposed that the varieties are chiefly 

 confined to those which are most prolific, or produce 

 the finest fruit in their different seasons of maturity. 

 At almost every cultivator's are the Petite and Grosse 

 Mignonne, Chevreuse hative, Galande, Magdeleine, 

 Bourdine, Admirable, Belle de Paris, Royale, Pavie, 

 and Teton de Venus, with a few nectarines, such as 

 Yiolette hative, Musque, and Gross Violette. {Gard. 

 Chron. 1842, 870.) 



