254 



FONTAINEBLEAU, AND THE 



the whole of the extensive grounds planted with Gladioli 

 you could not notice a decayed leaf, and all the plants were 

 in the rudest healthy some of the varieties growing as much 

 as six feet high. It was a fine sight at any time of the 

 day to see the magnificent stretch of varied bloom ; but 

 the days about the time of my last visit were very hot^ and 

 one was obliged to get up very early in the morning to see 

 it at its best. Although very showy at noon_, yet the hot 

 sun had caused the most open flowers to flag a little. But 

 in the early morning, when the dew hung upon the bloom, 

 and every petal was braced with its freshness, the flowers 

 were magnificent. 



The insect enemies of M. Souchet would prove enough 

 to deter and defeat most men. He makes ceaseless war 

 against them, and if they do succeed in destroying a bulb 



Fig. 97. 



Courteliere (Mole Cricket). 



now and then, it generally forms the guide to their detection 

 and destruction. If the courteliere or mole cricket were 

 allowed his own way for a fortnight in these grounds, I 

 fear some of the great bulb houses would sufi'er from their 

 want of Gladioli in autumn. When this strong and well 

 armed little fellow gets into a bed of choice Gladioli, you 

 cannot well dig him out as you could if he happened to be 

 in an open spot. The way he is killed here is so interesting 

 and efi'ective that I must relate it. M. Souchet explained 

 it to me ; but so many receipts for exterminating vermin 

 are not worth the trouble of trying the second time, that 

 probably I should not have noticed it had he not called a 

 workman and given me an illustration on the spot. When 

 the mole cricket goes about, he leaves a little loose ridge, 

 like the animal after which he is named : and when his 



