September 12. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
463 
3rd circle, deep crimson, Scabiosa. 
4th do., yellow. Dahlias. 
5th do., red, Roses. 
Gth do., blush, Roses. 
7th do., scarlet, Verbenas, &c. 
The last two examples, which make some approach to the 
bouquet an natural, contain a number of small sprigs of 
Jasmine, Orange, Boronia, Euphorbia, and similar kinds. 
These are raised about two inches above the general surface, 
and placed at certain distances between the circles. They 
thus relieve the flatness of the other flowers, and, when well 
placed in respect to colour, they give the whole bouquet a 
particular charm. But only small-leaved flowers are selected 
for this purpose, or when, as in the case of the Orange, 
the leaves are moderately large, they are taken olY, or 
arranged so as not to be too conspicuous. These raised 
flowers are also placed alternately in the circles at every 
second or third flower, and so as to form, at the same time, 
distinct cross or transverse lines, without in any way con¬ 
cealing the flowers of the primary circles. Considerable 
skill and patience are required in the formation of such a 
bouquet, but when well done, nothing can be more beautiful 
and artistique. 
Some of the other examples are pretty, but none of them 
are sufficiently decided in their character. Such as they 
are, however, they are not bad examples of what are to be 
seen on the Boulvards, and along the Quai Napoleon, at the 
present season, nearly every day. Fern fronds form the 
outer circumference, but in winter, a circle of club moss is 
used instead ; and at all times the under part of a bouquet 
is enveloped in clean white paper. 
If it will not be overstepping your limits, I shall close 
this communication with a few observations respecting the 
practice which prevails in Paris of planting rows of trees 
in the leading thoroughfares. This is a custom which is 
by no means confined to Paris and other French towns, for 
it is common enough in Holland, Belgium, and Germany, 
though it may be a question whether the same custom 
could be introduced with advantage to London and other 
large towns of Britain. In Paris, it is true, there are no 
gardens similar to our Squares, but gardens on a small 
scale are very numerous behind the houses, in almost every 
district, especially towards the circumference of the capital; 
and, indeed, the Professor appointed to give lectures and de¬ 
monstrations on the pruning and general culture of fruit- 
trees, receives his pupils at his own residence, not a great 
way from the most crowded quarters. The trees in the 
streets form one of the charms of a residence here, and the 
extensive alterations which have been going on for some 
time have greatly increased the work of the planter. Where 
the climate is so dry and warm as in Paris during the 
summer, these trees, placed at about ten or twelve fact apart, 
form a cool and agreeable shade. In general, they are not 
more than fifteen or twenty feet high, and for the most part 
they are composed of broad-spreading kinds, as the Acacia, 
the Birch, the Elm, the Lime, and the Wins typhina. The 
Alder, Maple, and Plane, are also somewhat common. -The 
Oak and Ash, however, are rare. The “ Boulvarts ” 
between the east and west extremities, that is, between the 
Bastille and the Madeleine, form a very spacious line of 
thoroughfare, and at several points the pavement is so wide 
as to admit of several rows of trees; but where there is 
only space for one row, the trees are planted near the kerb 
stone, leaving pedestrians ample walking room under their 
branches. 
In this way, every wide or leading street in Paris has its 
rows of trees. P. F. Keir. 
P.S.—With reference to the vegetable noticed in my 
former dispatch, I learn that the long Turnip is called 
Navct da Vertus, having been first introduced to general 
cultivation by a gardener at the village of Vertus, situated 
about three miles out of Paris. This variety of Turnip is 
grown extensively in France, for summer use chiefly, and it 
is a great favourite. 
The Black-skinned Radish ( Radis noir) has a strong 
acrid flavour, and makes an excellent ingredient in a salad. 
The green Fig, so common iu Paris, at present, is called 
La Jigue blanche d'Anjenteuil, from the fact of its being 
chiefly grown in the plains at Argenteuil, a small town a 
few miles from the capital. K. 
CHEAP PIT. 
As the season for building pits is fast approaching, I beg 
to offer you an account of a pit which I had the opportunity 
of seeing erected, and which I have also seen in operation, 
and as it is both simple and efficacious, I thought an account 
of it might, perhaps, be of service to some of your readers 
who contemplate building one this season. 
It is built entirely of turf, the sods being cut about 
eighteen inches by two feet, and three or four inches in 
thicknesk (it came off a common producing Heath and 
Furze in abundance). It is about twenty feet in length, by 
about five feet in width, inside measure. The back-wall 
is four feet, and the frout one two-and-a-lialf feet in height, 
and cost in erection about £1. The turf was had for the 
cutting. It is covered by six lights, which cost £5, and is 
heated by a very simple furnace. At one end an old ironing 
stove was set inside the pit and covered with paving tiles 
set in cement; over this is built an air chamber, extending 
the length and breadth of one light, near the top of which 
is an opening into the pit, a small hole about three inches 
square, to let the heated air into the pit, and on the bottom 
beside the furnace is’ a small hole to let the cold air into the 
chamber. The flue extends right along the pit, at front, 
and one end, and the smoke goes out at the back. The pit 
is divided into two compartments; one of two lights near the 
furnace is used in the opening to pi-opagate the bedding 
stock, and afterwards is filled with soil for Melons. The 
other four lights are used as a Vinery, and excellent 
bunches of Grapes are grown there ; some weighing three- 
quarters-of-a pound have been cut this season, and the 
Vines are quite free from all disease. In the winter, the 
rods of the Vines are tied to the back wall, and the pit is 
filled with Geraniums, Calceolarias, and other half-hardy 
plants, which do well iu it.—A. A., Beckenham. 
GARDEN NOTES FROM OVER THE BORDER. 
I had much pleasure in perusing “ R. H.’s ’’ account of 
the Sawbridgeworth Nurseries, in your No. 307, though 
somewhat too short for my satisfaction. 
About four years ago, I had a few acres of ground at 
the coast on the Frith of Clyde, and in laying it out, I was 
desirous of following Mr. Rivers’s suggestion, and form a 
“ minature fruit-garden ” on part of it, and, consequently, 
applied to him for several varieties of root-pruned pyra¬ 
midal Apple, Pear, and other fruit-trees. These blossomed 
abundantly the first year, but produced no fruit, which did 
not surprise me; they are continuing to grow and flourish 
to my heart’s content, but still as unfruitful as ever. I 
begin to think that my soil is too inch, a deep brown 
alluvial one, for the Paradise and Quince Stocks, &c., on 
which they are grafted. Should I root-prune them again ? 
My chief reason, however, for addressing you at this 
time, is to express my thanks for the information conveyed 
in the article alluded to, viz.—that “ herbaceous plants ” are 
to be procured at Mr. Rivers’s establishment from “ an ex¬ 
tensive and interesting collection," which is more than can 
be said in these parts. I also agree with “ R. H.,” that the 
“bedding system” is quite out of place in the cottager’s 
garden, and maintain, although the matter was latterly 
advocated by my friend, the late Mr. Loudon, that the mixed 
system is not desirable in a small garden. My flower-beds, 
the natural accompaniment of a fruit-garden, are formed 
on a sloping bank in front of the cottage, both single and 
in pairs, and continually remind me of my professional first 
lesson in eraniology. A perpendicular oval in the centre for 
the nose, a geometric Pine on either side, with the point 
downwards and inwards (about six feet apart) for the eyes, 
and a horizontal oval of a larger sizo farther down for the 
mouth, whilst the verdant lawn stretching onwards to the 
road, and sideways to a brawling rivulet, is dotted with ever¬ 
green and deciduous trees and shrubs, all of which have 
stood the severity of last season’s protracted frosts. Arbutus, 
Laurustinus, Bays (broad and-narrow-leaved sweet-scented), 
Arbor Vitces, Cedars, Olive, Junipers, Hollies, Yews, Quercits 
Oramuntia, Buddlea, Guelder Rose, Lilacs (new), Spirceas, 
Berberis aquifolium, Cotoncasters, Maples, red - flowering 
Chestnuts, Thorns, red Beech, &c. 
