The New York herald., 1869-11-22
LITERATURE.
Reviews Of New Books

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Reviews Of New Books.
THE PARKS, PRoMENADEs AND GARDENS OF PARIS
Described and considered In relation to tho wants
dens. BY W. sobinson, I. L. s. With upwards
of 400 illustrations. London: John Murray. New
York: Scribner, Wexford Co.
In 1867 the author Of this WORK, an English hortt-
cuIturst of some reputation though but little known
in the United States, was sent to Paris by the Lon
don Times as correspondent for the horticultural
department OF the great exhibition. While in France
he devoted much time to visiting and inspecting the
numerous gardens In and around Paris and to inves.
tgating the French system OF horticulture. The
result OF his research we have before us in one Of
the most interesting and instructive OF books that
have been written ana published on the same SUBJ
jeck 1t Is admirably printed illustrated aud bound.
there being nothing In the mechanical execution
with which to find fault
II Is not unlikely that q majority OF our readers
have either visited many Of the places described
here or have read descriptions OF them. 1t Is doubt
full though, If either the ordinary tourists or the
readers have seen or read anything which gives SO
clear and vivid idea as this book does or the Won
derful progress the French have made IN hortl-
cultural science. Mir. RobMson's descriptions are
those Of the artist. He leaves nothing unsaid and
exaggerates nothing. The pcture he draws OF the
Champs Elysees ana the gardens Of the Louvre and
the Tuieries are not less natural than graphic, and
the same can be sand Of his descriptions OF the Bots
de Boulogne. the Bots de Vincepnes the Pare Mou-
ceau the Paic des Buttes Chaumont. the Jardin des
Plantes and the Luxembourg gardens tue squares
des Batignoes, de Montrouge du Temple, des Arts
ct Meters ana several others OF minor I'M
portance, the church gardens and cene
teries, the boulevards and The Jardin Fleur
lste and other public nurseries OF the city
OF Parts. He gives due praise 10 all these places OF
note and the time judicousy criticises such
features in them in his opluion are susceptible
OF Improvement But perfection in any earthly
work Is SO nearly AKIN to the impossible that we can
readily forgive any shortcomings apparent in the
details, while indulgng in the iiveliest admiration
OF the beauty Of the whole.
To the present Emperor France Is IN
debted to considerable extent for her
rapid advancement In the science Of horticul-
ture But little In other parts OF Europe and
nothing in America can compare with the gardens
OF Paris. The book before opens with a brief
account OF tile Place de la C0nc0rde, from whence
we are conducted up the avenue des Champs Ely
SEES with It's borders of elms, cnesnuts and other
rees to the noble gardens OF the same name. Here
the scene Is grand. Although but nine years have
passed since these gardens were laid out, they 'ook
an ancient affair, have many respectable speci-
mems, COLucls uuXuoilds, NC., uuIuelOuS ldIsC
and well made banks and beds of
rnododendrons, azalea5, hoies, and the best
shrubs aud trees generally. with abundant
room Tor planting summer flowers" Amid "foun-
tans, weeping willows and not less beautiful weep
ing saphoras" we are led to garden devoted 20
musc-"The Concert Of the Champs Efystes, con-
ducted by Musard,n with which we are all familiar.
After describing all the features OF these gardens
Mr. Robinson sketches the Place du Carronsel and
then goes into description OF the gardens OF the
Louvre and the Tuleries, with their diversity Of
flowers and numerous works OF art.
The Bos de Boulogne is, OF course, the great fea-
ture among the noted sights OF Paris. In 1852 t
was forest, wild In artistic ugly. After Napoleon
became Emperor he transformed 1t into combina-
ton OF Wildwood and pleasure garden. making 1t
fairly magnificent. Its lakes, waterfalls and cas-
cades; it's ISLANDS, It's Garden OF Acclimatzation,
filed with an almoss endless variety OF animals and
plants, and the thousand and one other features
which distinguish this noblest OF modern works OF
the kind, iorTn subjects for delightful reading even
to those VINO have had the good fortune to be eye
witnesses to the scenes described.
1t would, OF course, DC impossible for rs to follow
Mr.. Robinson over the entire field Of his observa-
tion. To do so would he to demand an amount OF
space not obtainabe IN a paper ike tho HERALD
with It's vast variety OF news. To the gardens
squares, &c., already mentioned as described, we
viii add Versailles, FoHtanebIeau and the Gladolus
grounds OF NJ. souchct, the gardens OF st. Cloud
Meudon the peach gardens OF Montreu and the
market gardens or Parts. There are numerous
others to which we must refer the reader.
Not least In Importance arc those parts OF the book
which enter upon professional and critical review
OF the French system OF horticulture. Upon tho
whole Mr. Robinson concludes that 1t IS superior TO
the English system, and we nave no doubt OF its
superiority TO the American. Indeed, IL seems az
II our restless energy s incapable, or at least, unw
Ing to devote Itself to nigh development OF hort
cultural science. Tue excuse that we are O Young
nation Is the amest OF apologies In this ago
of progress. How absurd 1t does appear for
n people that have invented the telegraph
and the steamboat 10 apologize for ckwardness In
the development OF tue beautiful on the ground OF
yonth Why can VIC not have nurseries IN New York
like the Jarn Ficnrste OF farisf and for the mat
ter OF that why have we not had for the past quar-
ter OF century, system OF horticulture excciing
that OF France which mas really been perfected only
since the coup d'etat?
We have not read page OF this book without
mentally contrasting New ork with Paris. Except
Ing Central PARK, which Is far removed from COM
pieton, we have not really fine place OF pubic
reSort In tins city. Union square, Madison square,
Washington and 1Dmpkins squares, Stuyvesant park,
aud tho few other squares and parks which we own
are w0lully neglected. Why should not Union
square be the equal Of the Fare Mouceau, whleu
Mr.. Robinson thinks the most beautiful garden III
Parlsf Again, the opportunity IL ample FOR making
Madison square garden OF surprising beauty.
In point OF 0rnamcntatlon everything has TO be done
mere. our works of art are few; the subjects lor
them are IN profusion everywhere awaiting tne
chlsel OK tue scu0tor II We must wait througn