November 7. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
103 
always out of place at the front of some houses; nor in a j 
field, plantation, or many other places; but there is one 
place from which it ought to be banished if possible, and 
that is tbo “ kitchen-garden.” 
In making an attack on largo standard fruit-trees in a 
large garden expected to grow good vegetables likewise, 
I know I shall be met by the enquiry “Where are we to 
have our fruit from, if such trees are taken away ? ” 
This query is, 1 am aware, not very easy of solution in 
all cases, yet there are many in which such trees might 
bo dispensed with, and they are only tolerated in con¬ 
sequence of their “having been there a long time,” and 
there seems an unwillingness to disturb, or rather destroy 
such old, useful servants; however, if it was taken into 
i consideration how much injury they have done to small 
crops around them, it would be seen that the balance of 
merit does not lie so much on their side as might be 
expected, for very large trees are hurtful to crops for a 
; considerable distance around them, and, however fine 
the Pears, Apples, or Cherries a tree may bear which 
requires a forty-round ladder to gather them, perhaps we 
may safely warrant that everything around them does 
not look well. 
The shade of such trees is hurtful, as well as the 
greedy propensities of their roots; and we all know that 
in winter the shade from trees extends long distances; 
and however feeble it may be said the sun is at that 
time, its presence is necessary to the well-being of all 
vegetation, and I have known a good, useful wall of 
Peach-trees injured very much by the rearing of a 
quantity of high forest trees in front of them, not near, 
certainly, but not sufficiently removed to prevent their 
shading the Peach-wall iu the dead months of winter ; 
and, as it may be reasonably expected that a tree inside 
the garden must be more hurtful than those that are 
out, it follows that the fewer there are inside the better; 
in fact, there ought not to be any at all, for in most 
cases a little contrivance will enable the cultivator to do 
without such aids. Another site for a tree will present 
itself, or probably its uses were more imaginary than 
real, and it can bo done without very well. 
I have been led into tbe above remarks by seeing so 
many gardens encumbered with large standard fruit- 
trees, even in cases where I knew they had the same 
fruit in abundance elsewhere. Assuredly, healthy, useful 
vegetables are as necessary appendages to the dinner- 
table as the common fruits, and most gardens being in 
tbe neighbourhood of trees or plantations, sylvan 
scenery cannot afford much of an excuse for their being 
tolerated in a garden. On the other hand, a well-cropped 
garden is, of itself, an object of interest; for, apart from 
its utility, if everything be good that is grown there, 
j then everything must be beautiful; for it is impossible 
to separate the two, whatever the admirers of wild 
scenery may say to the contrary; and as the kitchen- 
garden is avowedly a place of utility, that principle 
ought to be carried out in its management; certainly 
not without now and then introducing a something 
ornamental as well, but exclude all tall, wide-spreading 
trees, or anything else likely to mar the utility of things 
around them. 
In the gardens of the humble cottager, I am awaro 
that fruit-trees often abound iu great profusion, but 
when they do so, good vegetables are rarely obtained. 
Nevertheless, I will make an exception in his case; for 
the limited space at his disposal compels him to make 
the most he can of the ground, and a large produce of 
the whole is to him of more consequence than any one 
thing remarkably good; besides which, ho often has more 
time to expend in the under crops of his little plot than 
a more extensive cultivator will find profitable; hence 
he is able to have a bed of Onions under his Apple-tree, 
| the bulbs being small, are, in a great measure, the 
, results of his assiduous waterings, and probably with 
manure-water too, with other things the same, so that 
1 will not quarrel with him for endeavouring to obtain 
a bushel or two extra of fruit, for they are the most 
saleable portion of his produce, perhaps. Rut in all 
cases where really good vegetables arc wanted, a 
healthy, open space must be selected, for it is only 
on such that we see the best produce sent to our 
Metropolitan markets; and if any doubt existed on the 
matter, it would easily be set at rest by visiting some of 
the large market-gardens around London, and then it 
would be seen that where the finest produce is seen, air 
and space is allowed it with a no stinting hand, so 
that it neither has to compete with a stouter neighbour 
for an existence, nor yet with one of its own species 
planted too close to it. Of the latter, I have, on former 
occasions, urged the necessity, and I now call attention 
to the large trees disfiguring and injuring so many 
gardens that would otherwise bo good, and hope the , 
present autumn will see some of them removed. 
J. Robson. 
NOTES FROM PARIS —No. 3. 
THE GARDEN OF PLANTS. 
Tins ccbrated establishment (Le Jardin des Plantes) is 
situated near the north-eastern extremity of Paris, and it 
is chiefly remarkable for its extensive museums of Natural 
History, and its collections of living animals imported from 
all parts of tbe world. It also contains a valuable Library and 
Herbarium, to which admission is granted every day, on pre¬ 
sentation of a card, whicli may bo had of the directors without 
any difficulty. The books in this library include all subjects 
relating to Botany, Natural History, Horticulture, Chemistry, 
Geology, and other sciences, printed, tod, in French, English, 
German, and other languages. Every facility is afforded to 
students and others, who wish to read, or copy illustrations. 
There is an efficient staff of professors, who deliver a course 
of lectures twice a year, aud to these lectures the public is 
admitted free. Indeed, everything is free iu this establish¬ 
ment, as in many others here; such institutions being 
maintained entirely by the government. Tbo professors 
in the departments of Botany, Natural History, and 
Horticulture, aro M. Brogniart, and M. Decoisne, names 
already well known to many of your readers. There 
are six or seven more professors for other sciences, 
as Zoology, Mineralogy, Paleontology (fossils), Geology, 
Chemistry, and Anatomy. There is also an evening class 
for Drawing during the winter months, tbe studies, of course, 
having reference chiefly to the accurate delineation of 
scientific subjects, including Anatomy in general. 
The garden itself, especially as to the laying-out, offers 
but little requiring particular notice. Its principal features 
arc three long and wide avenues of tall trees, one of Lime, 
another of Alder, and a third of Chesnuts. These avenues 
form an agreeable and shady promenade, during the warm 
months, to the numerous persons who come here every day 
for recreation or instruction. Tbe ground at one side of 
the central avenue is flat, and laid out in formal beds and \ 
clumps filled with herbaceous plants, and on tbe other side ' 
is the strictly botanical department, carefully inclosed, and 
to which only students and others engaged in the profession ■ 
are admitted, on presenting a card from one of the pro- ; 
fessors or directors. 
This part of the ground is called the Ecole tic Botanique 
(School of Botany), and it is open from six to nine in tbe 
morning, and from three to six in the evening. The plants 
are, of course, arranged according to the Natural System, 
and the beds are always kept very neat and clean. The 
labels (called etiquettes, in French) are of a particular colour, 
to indicate the properties and uses of the plants. Thus, red 
indicates that the plant is used in medicine ; green, that it is 
used as food ; blue, in arts and manufactures ; black, that 
it is poison, &c., The name only is written on the label, 
and the colour of the latter indicates the properties of tbe 
plant. This plan, which 1 do not recollect having seen 
elsewhere, at least saves a little trouble in the writing of 
labels. A portion of the ornamental part of the garden j 
