LYONS. 



601 



herbaceous and alpine plants^ and so on^ while frequently 

 magnificent masses of colour meet the view. 



The purely scientific portion is not allowed to disfigure 

 the garden_, while it is as useful as in public gardens where 

 it is allowed to destroy every trace of repose or naturalness. 

 It is arranged in circular beds, handy for reference and also 

 for keeping the plants distinct. The fruit garden is not 

 large, and aims more at showing the various forms of fruit- 

 trees than obtaining crops of fruit. Of course it is impos- 

 sible to get a good result as regards produce, and grow in a 

 small space many varieties in all sorts of forms. The vase 

 form was very perfect here ; it seems more ornamental than 

 nsefuL A novel way of growing Peaches was in operation. 

 It was a trellis backed with the neat straw mats so common 

 in French gardens. At the top a slight provision was made 

 on which to place a narrow straw mat, so as to protect 

 the trees in spring. Lathyrus ensifolius, a fine hardy 

 perennial kind, was observed here in flower. There is a 

 good deal of glass in the gardens, the larger conservatories 

 having Palms and fine-leaved subjects planted out and 

 arranged with admirable effect. Some of the smaller houses 

 are on a plan analogous to the very useful ones at La 

 Muette — a house placed at right angles to the others off'ers 

 free communication to all, and the workmen when removing 

 tender plants from one house to the other have not to 

 expose them to the open air. The houses are mostly 

 shaded with a very strong and thick but small-meshed net- 

 ting, made out of the fibre of Lygeum Spartum. It seems 

 a decided improvement on the lath shadings so often used 

 on the Continent. 



There seemed great activity and good management in the 

 hot-house department, and a capital feature was displayed 

 near it — a large trial ground. This disposed in parallel beds, 

 contained numbers of most things in the way of ornamental 

 plants for summer gardens, from Pelargoniums to Cle- 

 matises. There is a memorial column in the garden^, 

 and between the wide steps of this column and its actual 

 base, a rather narrow cavity is left, from which springs a 

 healthy ring of Laurel. It is a novelty, and in good taste. 



