148 CHEMICO-AGRTCULTURAL TOUR. 



And in the sandy soil, further from the river, he gives the fullow- 

 ing as being adopted : 



1st year, Fallow, with dung. 



2d " Bye. 



3d " Clover, limed, and soiled with ditch-cleanings. 



4th " Wheat, with duug. 



5th " Bucivwheat. 



6th " Kye, with dung. 



7th " Oats. 



Chesnut trees appear to be very abundant iu the Rhenish dis- 

 tricts, and I understand that their nuts are used in considerable 

 quantit}^ by the peasants as an article of food, which are eaten by 

 them either plain, after being roasted, or having been boiled with 

 other vegetables. They are also used as a fodder for cattle ; and 

 for this purpose they are well adapted, as they contain a large pro- 

 portion of albuminous and flesh-forming substances. 



At Bonn I again got on board one of the Rhine steamers, and 

 proceeded down the river as far as Cologne. This portion of the 

 Rhine is very flat and uninteresting, when compared with that 

 between Casscl and Bonn : it is not, however, devoid of natural 

 beaut}', and the villages along the banks give variety and interest 

 to the scene. The country, too, appears to be rich and well culti- 

 vated. 



From Cologne, I proceeded direct by rail to Brussels. In the 

 neighborhood of the former town, large farm-houses are here and 

 there to be seen, and some of the extensive farms connected with 

 them appear to be well managed ; and I understand that one of 

 the rotations there adopted is the following, viz., fallow, wheat, 

 rye, clover, oats, rye. 



For some distance before reaching Achen or Aix-la-Chapelle, the 

 railway passes through flat and very extended plains, the soil of 

 which appears to be of the poorest description, and the district 

 has a very monotonous and dreary aspect. Shortly, however, 

 after leaving that town, the country between it and Verviers be- 

 comes more varied and picturesque, and in its general appearance 

 and agriculture is not unlike st)me parts of this country. Fine 

 pastures may be seen along the sides of the sloping hills, on which 

 numerous cattle were observed grazing. And in addition to the 

 other agricultural productions of this locality, 1 understand that a 

 considerable quantity of cheese is made here, which is celebrated 

 for its superior quality. 1 am informed that, in winter, the chief 

 food of the cattle consists of chopped straw, together with roots 



