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CH A P T ER II.
The Environs of St. Peter’s Port—Gardens and Floriculture.
A l t h o u g h I have already incidentally spoken of the
immediate environs of St. Peter’s Port, I have not
yet done sufficient justice to them. Around St. Helier,
Jersey, nature has done more than a r t: around St.
Peter’s Port, Guernsey, their claims are at least equal.
The country is less rich, less diversified : but it is
everywhere made the most of. The villas and cottage
residences are not perhaps so numerous; but they are
larger, handsomer, and in better repair; and look like
the houses of people to whom the island is home, and
who must needs have a house, rather than of persons
who have come to the island in search of a house.
Wood is not so abundant in the neighbourhood of
Peter’s Port, but it is better disposed: and the environs
being more elevated than the country round St.
Helier, finer views are commanded from many points.
There is an area in the neighbourhood of the town,
called the New Ground,—a fine level grass field, surrounded
by double rows of trees, which form almost as
fine an arcade as the Champs Elysees. This was
intended as a promenade for the inhabitants, who do
not however choose to promenade th e re ; but in truly
English taste, prefer the dusty roads. There is no
doubt however, that while in foreign countries, the
chief object of the promenade, is to see and be seen,—
in England, and among English people, other objects
are superadded, — health and exercise. To take a
walk, in the English sense, is a thing unknown in most
parts of the continent; but as this is really the intention
of an English-woman, when she puts on her
bonnet and shawl, the preference of the road over the
more restricted promenade, is sufficiently accounted
for. Blit, to return to the New Ground, Guernsey,—
although the traveller need not go there to see the
inhabitants, he ought certainly to spend half an hour
there some fine sunny summer’s evening, for the sake
of the view to be enjoyed from it. A sea view is the
most beautiful, when it is not all sea; and in this
respect, Guernsey has the advantage of Je rsey : for
the islands of Serk, Herm, and Jetliou, wliich are
comprehended in all the views from the neighbourhood
of the town, add great variety and interest to the
prospect.
The beauty not only of the immediate, but of the
remoter environs of St. Peter’s Port, is greatly enhanced
by the numerous gardens, and by the passion
for fiowers, everywhere prevalent amongst all classes
in Guernsey, Ih e superiority of Guernsey over
Jersey, in the greater excellence of its gardens, and in
the more successful, and more universal cultivation of
flowers, does not certainly depend upon any superiority
of soil or climate,—the latter of which indeed, is in
lavour of Je rsey; but is to be attributed solely, to
greater pains taken in floriculture. Nor is it only, in
the larger gardens, —to which a stranger is generally