10 
THE FLORIST. 
proper proportion. In some cases, sloping grass banks were substituted 
for walls, and, in larger gardens, banquetting-rooms and grottoes were 
not uncommon. Towards the end of the period we are describing, iron 
fences first came into use, in the place of walls, and iron gates, of 
elaborate design, and good workmanship, were substituted for the 
massive doors which they replaced. This was an improvement, as it 
gave an air of lightness and freedom to the vicinity of the mansion, and 
introduced a new feature, in the shape of ornamental iron-work, into 
gardens. Formal in all its details as was this style of gardening, there 
was, nevertheless, something striking in this very formality. Each 
bush, tree, and yard of ground bore the impress of art—of human 
labour, and would, consequently, strike the beholder with wonder and 
admiration, from so forcibly contrasting with natural scenery ; and 
hence, to the mind not sufficiently tutored to analyze the beauties of 
Nature correctly, preference would be given to scenery furthest removed 
from what every day met the eye, and, when this came to be viewed in 
combination with architecture on the grandest scale, and with all the 
accessories of embellishment and high keeping, we need not be surprised 
at the admiration it created, a feeling not much lessened in the present 
day, nor yet that the glories of Versailles, the Trianon, St. Cloud, or 
St. Germain, should not find imitators with us, or a desire to resuscitate 
a style, which, divested of its puerilities, is so compatible with palatial 
grandeur. However, “ Paradise Lost ” had been written, and Milton’s 
sublime heau ideal of natural scenery was gaining possession of the 
minds of men of taste ; so, an article in the “ Spectator,” and a cutting 
satire from Pope, finished the matter, and away went parterres, straight 
walks, cut hedges, clipped lions and dragons, &c., &c. Extremes follow 
extremes, and so it was, that there were very few gardens indeed, but 
whet made a clearance of their fine old walks and hedges, and went 
with the back current of public opinion. 
{To he continued.) 
NOTES DURING A JOURNEY TO PARIS, OCTOBER, 1856. 
October 18, 1856.—Left London Bridge Station for Folkestone at 8-|- 
A.M. Arrived there at 11, and proceeded to Boulogne, which we reached 
after a charming passage,—a cloudless sky, and a brilliant sun illumining 
the sea of glassy smoothness over which we sailed. Boulogne is a neat 
little town, but after you get out of it the country is very tame, and the 
monotony is the more striking in consequence of the total absence of 
everything like fine trees. All the trees are young, poly, and naked, and 
have evidently had too much pruning ; the majority of them are Poplars. 
The farming is of a very indifferent character ; on one side of the railway - 
there are very extensive salt marshes. Soon after dusk we reached the 
old town of Amiens, where we stopped a few minutes for refreshments, 
and then whirled away for Paris, where we arrived at 8 P.3i., and 
where I immediately sought the Hotel de Londres. 
The next day being Sunday I went to the cathedral of Notre Dame, 
