The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1849-03-20
LETTER FROM FRANCE.


from p Barry Esq, editor of the Horticultural
department OF the Genesee Farmer, dated at Lon
don. We now give an extract from another let
ter from the same source which we find in the
last number of the Farmer.
PARIS, January 5, ls49.
Among the multitude of attractions presented
to the stranger here, the Jardin des Plants, has
been to me the most interesting.
The immense collection of trees, plants, and
animals here has been accommodating for upwards
OF a century-since the days of Louis XIII. |
spent day in it; and l could have spent week
delightfully."-. Indeed, had but passing glimpse
at the various departments. | have visited no
botanic garden so satisfactory TO the student or
visitor as this. In those of England they usually
aim too much at producing fine landscape, in
stead OF arranging plants in such way as to be
readily seen and examined by all. Here each
family OF plants occupies separate bed or com.
partment and all are legibly labelled. The ORR
gnal plantation oil trees occupies beautiful hill,
commanding prospect Of the whole houses and
gardens of the institution, and the adacent parts
OF the city. Here is a noble cedar OF Lebanon,
planted by Jassieu, in 1885, it is about II feet-in
circumference. There are also many young ones
ten or fifteen years old, that very fine.
also saw many fine specimens OF the new and rare
pines, such as erceiSa, Sabiniand, &c. also
beautiful tree of the new and much admired tGro-
dian seHlperUirens-one OF the most elegant ever
green trees have seen. The largest and oldest
wlonia in Europe is here. 1t is now twelve
to eighteen inches in diameter, and covered with
blossom buds. | noticed, also fine specimens of
several OF our American oaks-o our White Pine,
cottonwood, Hemlock, SC. | noticed, also, a
Weeping Sophoro here that is remarkably grace
full, and must occupy prominent place among
such elegant pendulous trees as the Ash, Willow,
Birch, &c ; and, by the way, have seen a new
Weeping Birch, Weeping Willow, Black Weep.
ing Thorn, Weeping Euonymus, and some others
that will give US most interesting collection of
trees oil this habit. In the Conservatory and
Green House of the Jardin des Plants, are fine
specimens of rare Palms, sc. ; but had little
time to see them; and cannot now give detailed
account of them. In the fruit department was
much pleased with the pear garden. Indeed,
the pear trees are famous all over France and
England, amongst cultivaors, as being the best
managedspeclmens known. The superintendent
OF this department. M. Cape, has had the honor
OF managing his pear trees, as pyramids, better
than any other in Europe; but | have seen better
managed trees than his, and shall speak OF them
in future.
These are, certainly, beautiful models, and
cannot fail TO please all who see them. They
are just what all garden pear trees should be in
shape. They are planted in rows ten feet apart,
and eight feet apart in the rows; between each
drill is small plot Of strawberries; and between
each bed is walk OF three feet; so that the bed
itselfis about six feet wide. The trees are, per-
haPs, eight CT ten years old about foot in d.
ameter; most of them ten TO twelve feet high.
The first tier, Of branches are within a foot or
less OF the ground; the next, two or three inches
above it and so on, forming a symmetrical pyra-
mid. They are all on ounce stocks. Another
of the luxurious and delightful places of public
amusement, is the Jardin d. hiuers, an immense
structure OF glass, 800 feet wide and "a feet
high. tits filled with fine plants. 1t is now
forty feet high. Connected with this is fine
collection painting; and concerts are held in it
once week, to which the admission is very mo-
derate.
OF the flower market, and many other things,
must tell you at future time. P.B.