284 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
January 9. 
forms tbo nails, hinges, clasps, glue, scaffolding, and other 
instruments of construction. But this string is attached to 
the very first flower used in the formation of a bouquet; as 
soon as one or two more flowers are added, the string is 
passed round them a few times, and then held by the thumb 
till a another is pressed against it, which keeps it in its 
place. In this way the flowers are continued, and the string 
is passed round every fresh layer, so to speak, till the whole 
bouquet is completed. It will he easily perceived, that 
according to this plan it is easy to keep the flowers in their 
places, and yet turn the bouquet with perfect ease in any 
direction that may be required, while, at the same time, 
there is little or no probability of the flowers dropping out, 
because they are all tied to one another. In order to com¬ 
mand every facility of turning and examining the bouquet 
while in course of construction, it is sometimes stuck upon 
an iron prong secured to a dressing-board, and this latter 
expedient enables the person making it up to use both 
hands in arranging and separating the flowers of which the 
bouquet is being made. It also enables him to put it down 
and take it up at any moment, and it is always easy to 
secure the string by giving it a few extra turns. 
The string used in the formation of a bouquet is fine and 
strong ; not thick, because the under part of the bouquet 
would be clumsy and difficult to grasp ; not too fine, because 
it would be always liable to break. A fine sort of whip cord 
is very good for the purpose. So, also, is the fancy cord 
generally used in shops. But descriptions, to be of any use in 
some things, can only be carried to a certain extent, and 
the art of making up a French bouquet is to be learned 
chiefly by practice, and a careful study of the leading points 
1 have stated in this and my former communication on the 
same subject. I would just add here, that it is never 
necessary to stick in flowers at the surface, unless it happens, 
indeed, that by some oversight or other they have been 
forgotten, for when working according to the French prin¬ 
ciple, the person constructing the bouquet can always make 
sure of what he is about. If, however, it be found desirable 
to put in flowers at the surface, after the bouquet is com¬ 
pleted, that can be done by an instrument made for the 
purpose. There is another advantage worth pointing out, 
in connection with the string, that is the facility for working 
in a little damp moss between the stalks, when it is desirable 
to prolong the freshness and beauty of the flowers. But, 
apart from this consideration, moss may be sometimes used 
for the purpose of “ filling up,” in order to obviate any 
undue bending of the stalks, especially in large bouquets, 
but in this case it is, of course, only used below the flowers. 
The outer part of bouquets here is generally formed of 
Fern leaves, but sometimes twigs of Acacia, Hemlock 
Spruce, Myrtle, and similar plants are also used, though 
rarely; for, in fact, the flowers do not require anything to 
keep them in their places in addition to the string with 
which they are worked together. But no bouquet is ever 
seen here without a sheet of clean white paper round it. 
THE WEATHER. 
For the last month the weather has been damp, dismal, 
dull, and dirty. Wo have had, now and then, a fine, dry 
day, but rain has been more than usually abundant. A 
considerable quantity of snow fell towards the end of No¬ 
vember, and, subsequently, one or two touches of frost 
were felt. 
PUBLIC PROMENADES. 
The Parisians have nothing in the form of parks, such as 
those at London, but though they seldom get a stroll upon 
“ the greeny greeny grass,” they have no lack of promenades, 
both in and out of town, at almost all seasons. If the 
weather is fine, they have the long lines of broad pavement, 
and rows of trees, which form what are called the inner and 
outer Boulevarts. The former extend from the “ Place de 
la Bastille,” near the eastern extremity, to the chinch of 
tlie Madelaine, about two miles eastward, in a circular 
direction. The inner Boulevarts, in fact, consist of a long, 
wide street, with rich shops and dwelling-houses on each 
side. The footway is from twenty to thirty feet wide; in 
some places forty feet wide; and there are trees at con¬ 
venient distances. This line of street, which, in some < 
respects, may be compared to Regent-street, London, but 
much finer, is the favourite promenade and lounge of all I 
classes here. The outer Boulevarts, immediately on the j 
other side of what is called the barrier, extend all round 
the capital, and, in some places, assume the appearance of 
an avenue of old Elms, whose lofty heads form at once a 
shelter and a shade. In summer, these avenues resemble a 
long road on the skirts of an English forest. There is an 
obvious adaptation in all things. The Parisians are fond 1 
of walking about. Their fine climate favours this idle pre- j 
dilection, and they never need go far to enjoy themselves in j 
the open air, when the weather is fine, or under cover when 1 
it is not; for, besides the Boulevarts, which are easily j 
accessible to all, there are many open Places, dotted here 
and there, which afford an agreeable promenade, and these 
are generally enlivened by the presence of ornamental trees. 
The whole line of the Seine, too, on each side, has its broad 
footways, and its rows of Oaks, Elms, Alders, and Planes. 
Besides' these numerous facilities for out-of-door enjoy¬ 
ment, the Parisians have always access to the Jardin des 
Plantes, the Jardin des Tulleries, the Jardin du Luxembourgh, 
and, in short, every other garden of any consequence. 
What is called the Avenue des Champs Elysee, and the Bois 
ile Boulogne, form so many miles of promenading ground. 
The Jardin des Tulleries consists of fine, broad avenues, 
with lofty old Elms, Planes, and other trees also, a few 
flower clumps, and a great many statues of celebrated 
persons, as well as ideal productions in art. This garden 
has the Palace of the Tulleries at oue end, and the Place de 
la Concord at the other. The latter is remarkable for its 
large fountain and statuary. One oue side of the garden is 
the Seine, and on the other the Bite de Rivoli, noted for its 
fine buildings.and its English Hotels. 
The Jardin du Luxembourgh is situated towards the south¬ 
eastern extremity of Paris, and, besides being a favourite 
promenade, contains upwards of a hundred large, old Orange 
trees, in boxes, placed at about ten feet apart, on each side 
of the broad walks, during summer. When in flower, these 
trees produce such a perfume as to be perceptible at a con¬ 
siderable distance. Being somewhat near the chief colleges 
and schools, this garden is the favourite resort of students, 
who, in the calm summer evenings, while meditating on 
the deej) problems of science, or the principles of art, can 
inhale the fresh air amidst the most soothing influences. 
The Bois de Boulogne, which may be likened to to Ken¬ 
sington Gardens, but more artificially laid out, has lately 
undergone several important alterations and improvements, 
the principal of which has been the formation of au artificial 
river or lake, somewhat like the Serpentine, but having one 
or two cascades of considerable volume. While these works 
were going on, in the earlier stages, several largo trees had 
to be removed, and the operation of lifting and trans¬ 
planting them employed a great many workmen for more 
than a week. Among the largest trees moved was a fine 
Cedar of Lebanon, about thirty years old, and the removal 
of which was a work of much time and labour, for this tree 
was lifted with a more than ordinarily large ball, and the 
work was new to those who took it in hand. 
I have mentioned promenades under cover, but it is not 
my province to speak of these at length, 1 will, therefore, 
dismiss the subject in saying that there are, throughout 
Paris, a great number of spacious Arcades or Bazaars, called 
here “ Passages.” These are similar to the Arcades of 
London, but of far greater extent, well lighted, and remark¬ 
able for their shops of rich fancy goods. The principal of 
these are the “ Passage des Panoramas,” the “ Passages de 
VOpera,” and the “ Passage du Palais Royal,” where there 
is also a large plot of ground studded with young trees. 
The I’assages are favourite resorts, especially when the 
weather is not very inviting out-of-doors, and nothing can 
exceed their aspect of comfort and splendour. As a great 
part of Paris is built over catacombs, we may also say that 
much of it is under glass. 
TREE LIFTING. 
But now to come to a subject of, perhaps, greater in¬ 
terest to your readers, I may notice that Mr. Me Glashen, 
: of Edinburgh, has been here for some six or seven weeks, 
performing experiments with his patent tree-lifting machines. 
One of his first exhibitions was at the Garden of St. Cloud, 
in the presence of the Emperor, the Empress, and many 
I distinguished .members of the haute noblesse, including the 
