150 CHEMICO-AGRICULTURAL TOUR. 



character ; but to the eye of the agriculturist it abounds in objects 

 of interest (especially that portiou between Brussels and Ghent), 

 from the richness and variety of its vegetable productions, which, 

 being grown in rather small divisions, give the country the appear- 

 ance of a rich and well-stocked garden. The hop is grown to a 

 considerable extent in this district, especially in the neighborhood 

 of Alost, where also there are numerous rich meadows. 



Arriving- at Bruges, which is the chief town of Western Flan- 

 ders, and is situated in the centre of a highly interesting agricultu- 

 ral district, I took an early opportunity of getting a good general 

 idea of the country, by ascending the lofty belfry-tower in the 

 Grande Place, from the upper gallery of which I obtained a most 

 extensive view of the surrounding country, which fully repaid me 

 for the fatigue of toiling up the four hundred and two steps I had 

 to ascend in order to reach this commanding point of observation, 

 which, besides its affording a scene of much agricultural interest, 

 is worthy of a visit on account of its celebrated chime-bells, which 

 are said to be the finest in Europe. These bells, forty-eight in 

 number (some of them being of hu^2'6 dimensions), are struck by 

 one hundred and forty hammers, which are worked by a curious 

 system of machinery, and are made to chime every quarter of an 

 hour, pioducing notes that are, most agreeable from the sweetness 

 and richness of their tones. 



The country around Bruges is remarkable for its flatness, so that 

 viewed from an eminence, us from the belfry-tower, it appears, as 

 far almost as the eye can reach, to be an extended plain, varied 

 however in its appearance by the great variety of crops growing 

 in a high state of cultivation, the orchards, the clumps and ave- 

 nues of trees, the wind-mills, farm-houses, canals and other objects, 

 rendering the whole scene replete with interest to the agriculturist. 

 Descending from the belfry-tower, I took a drive of some distance 

 into the country, in order that I might observe more closely the 

 nature and condition of the various crops, how they were culti- 

 vated, and other matters connected with the agriculture of this 

 part of Flanders. 1 was much struck with the richness of the va- 

 rious crops I saw, especially the wheat and rye, which were grow- 

 ing in a most luxuriant state in the vicinity of Bruges. I remarked 

 also the cleanness and well-cultivated condition of the fields, many 

 of which were bordered with narrow stripes of grass, which, in 

 addition to their use in dividing the crops and fields, were made 



