$14 ^" % Jgnculture of the Netherlands, Aug, 



A Campine farm of twenty bunders is flocked with two or 

 three horfe?, feven or ei^ht cows, fome oxen, and iv<» ciihivated 

 with colefeeil, clover, rye, oats, and little or no wheat. It is 

 hardly neccliliry to add, that potatoes, turnips, and carrots are 

 cultivated not only in the Campine, but throuQjhout all the Low 

 Countries. But the culture of fpergule (ajfitjefpergula major) 

 is more peculiar to the north of Brabant, though not confined 

 (o that tra6\ alone It ferves the cows for autumn food, and the 

 butter of this feafon is called fpergule butter, of which the Cam- 

 pine furnv(lies a great quantity, efpecially to Brufl-ls, where it is 

 employed for the ufe of the kitchen, as beinj; both cheaper and 

 more profitable than any other for that purpofe. This plant is 

 fown where corn has been teaped, after the ground has been 

 lightly ploughed. Cows are tethered on it in October, and a 

 fpace allowed to each one proportionable to the quantity of food 

 which is proper for her. This padure lafts till the froils come 

 on. 



As fpergule gives but little ftraw, and confequently little ma- 

 nure, the farmers fupply the want thereof in tht following man- 

 tier — The peat or fods which are cut from the heath, are placed 

 in the ftables and cow-ftalls as litter for the cattle. The ground 

 under them is dug to a certain depth, fo as to admit a confider- 

 able quantity of thefe peat fods, and frefh ones are added as the 

 feet of the cattle tread them down into lefs compafs. Thefe 

 compofe fo many beds of manure, thoroughly impregnated with 

 ihe urine and dung of the cattle. This litter is renewed at pro- 

 per times, and that which is removed from the ftables and cow- 

 ftalls is laid up in heaps, till it be carried into the fields where 

 it is to be fpread. This mixture produces a compoll of e \cel- 

 lent quality for fertilizing ground where corn is to be fown. 

 By thefe means a far greater quantity of manure is produced 

 from the peat, than could be had by burning it, as is done in 

 fome parts. In the Campine oi Brabant, the main obje6l which 

 the farmers hr.ve in view, is to obtain a great quantity of ma- 

 nure, without which all attempts to cultivate that barren foil are 

 in vain. 



Befides butter, the Campine furnlflies the reft of Brabant, and 

 Bruflels particularly, with great quantities of fat fowl : the mar- 

 kets are conftantly fnpplied with them, and they are preferred 

 to any other of the fame kmd. They are not lefs fought for and 

 cfteemed in South Holland. 



The Parts of Brabant coniigtious to ihe Campine, 



There is no great farms in thefe parts, and hardly any fuch 

 thing a6 tenants i each farmer is a pioprietor; and as he culti- 

 vates his own ground, it is clear that he will do all he can to 



render 



