TiS 



BELOH'M. 



HKUillTM. 



these elements. Agricultural industry is carried to a great extent in 

 the kingdom, and the cultivator* hare availed themselves of every 

 advantage within their reach for increasing their productions. Farm* 

 rarely exceed 100 acre* in extent, and those under 50 acres are much 

 more numerous than those above that sue. The farm-buildings are 

 usually huge for the sixe of the farm, and complete in their arrange- 

 ments. On large farms there is frequently a distillery or an oil- 

 crushing machine, perhaps both, and occasionally a corn-mill, in 

 addition to the ordinary farming erections and instruments. Peasant 

 farmers occupy ing farms of from 5 to 10 acres are extremely numerous. 

 They are a remarkably industrious and frugal race, and cultivate 

 their small farms with the care and neatness of a garden ; their 

 houses and outbuildings are generally in good order ; and their crops 

 afford a favourable comparison with those of their more opulent 

 neighbours. 



(morcellement) of the land has been carried : 



Sheep fanning hardly appears to be so successfully pursued. Sheep 

 are principally bred in the south-eastern provinces. The total 

 number in the kingdom is about 800.000. Pigs are also largely bred. 

 Poultry is raised in very considerable numbers. Qame is very 

 abundant. 



A good deal of attention has been paid of late years to the 

 rearing of the silk-worm, and this branch of employment appears to 

 be steadily increasing. 



Mnnufacturrt, Commerce, <c. The manufacturing iudiut 

 Belgium very much declined in modern times as compared with the 

 extent to which it was carried on in the 14th century. Much earlier 

 than this, under the Romans, several Flemish cities were celebrated 

 for producing woollen cloths. Extensive manufactures of 

 and linens were carried on in the time of Charlemagne, chiefly in 

 Liege. The making of thread-lace originated in Flanders, and Brussels 

 and Mechlin carried on a large trade in that article : iu the f 

 city more than 12,000 persons were once employed in its production. 

 Early in the 14th century Louvain contained 4000 looms for woollens ; 

 and Brussels and Antwerp had together as large a number. At a 



REGISTERED OOCCPATIOS OP THE LASD is BELGIUM (is ENGLISH ACRES). 



This table renders it unnecessary to speak of the products which 

 are most characteristic of the several provinces. The great extent 

 of cultivation here shown has been effected by a long course of 

 industry on the part of the inhabitants, the soil naturally being 

 unproductive. The most general objects of cultivation are wheat, 

 rye, barley, oats, and the other cereals. Flax is a staple commodity : 

 its culture is pursued with great care and success, and Belgian flax 

 commands a high price in the markets of Englaud and France, to 

 both of which countries it is largely exported. Hemp is also grown 

 to some extent. The artificial grasses, clover, trefoil, lucerne, and 

 sainfoin ore among the most valuable crops : the clover especially in 

 of very superior quality, and a good deal of clover-seed is exported to 

 Englaud. Turnips, carrots, Swedish turnips, parsnips, and potatoes 

 are raised to a considerable amount by field culture. Beet is largely 

 grown, there being several considerable manufactories of beet-root 

 sugar. Hops, as shown by the table, are grown to some extent The 

 Tine is not very extensively cultivated, but it appears to succeed 

 long the valley of the Maas. Tobacco is grown in some situations, 

 bat less than formerly. Chicory, madder, and woad are also raised 

 for exportation. All or nearly all the fruits grown in England ore 

 cultivated, and many kinds in largo quantities ; all the usual European 

 regeUble* are raised very largely for the markets. 



The forest* and woodlands, as has been seen, occupy a considerable 

 area : it is also customary to plant trees on the borders of fields and 

 around the village*. The forests are chiefly in Luxemburg and 

 Liege ; these two provinces, with Naintir, include a portion of the , 

 ancient Forest of Ardennes. All the usual European trees are ' 

 grown ; the most common are the oak, the chestnut, horse-chestnut, 

 beech, elm, ash, walnut, hornbeam, fir, and different descriptions of 

 poplars. The forests of Luxemburg afford the main supply of oak 1 

 for naval and other purposes ; and of charcoal for the iron-work*. 

 Plantations of Scotch and other firs have become numerous. The 

 laws for the preservation of timber are very strict. 



The breeding ami rearing of cattle are chiefly pursued in K.i*l and 

 West Flanders, in Limburg, and Luxemburg. A good deal of - 

 has been paid within the last few years to the improvement of the 

 breeds, and a marked improvement is said to be already visibl. 

 a comparison of the most recent available returns, the present stock 

 of homed cattle in Belgium may be estimated at very little undi-r 

 1,000,000. The dairy is an important source of the fanner's income. 

 Butter is made in large quantities, both for home consumption and 

 exportation. 



<h horse* have always borne a high reputation, and 

 increased effort* have been made of late to sustain it. The horses 

 bred for exportation are chiefly heavy draft horses, of which large 

 numbers are annually sold. The total number of horses in the 

 kingdom is about 800,000. 



date not quite so remote Ghent employed between 30,000 and 40,000 

 looms for the weaving of woollen and linen goods. It ix in. nt 

 that the weavers of that city once mustered 16,000 men in arms 

 under the banners of their respective trades. The city of An' 

 at the time of its capture in 1585 by the Duke of Parma, go\ 

 of the Spanish Netherlands, contained a large population employed 

 in manufacturing woollen and silk goods ; but at that time, through 

 the tyranny of its conquerors, the artisans were driven away, and 

 many of them took refuge in England, where UK-IT- \:mipi- 

 instruction were of great use for the improvement of tin- Knj.-H.-h 

 manufactures. After the separation of Belgium from 1 1 ol land, both 

 the manufactures and trade of Belgium declined still further ; but a 

 reaction commenced a few years later, and the improvement box 

 since steadily continued. The intersection of the country by railways 

 has quickened the energy of the people, and ..|..-n- .1 new markets 

 for the various productions ; and the manufactures of Belgium are 

 now for more active and flouriflhing than at any recent period. The 

 woollen manufacture is now actively prosecuted o Verviers, Liege, 

 Dolhoim, llo.limont, Chorleroi, Tournay, Mons, Stavelot, Thuiti, 

 Ypres, and Poperinghe. Nearly 50,000 workmen' are employ 

 this branch of industry at Ypres, the chief seat of the woollen manu- 

 facture. At Verviers the production of the finer kinds of 

 i-iii]>loyn a large number of hands. The making of serges, camlets, 

 and the coarser stuffs is most extensively pursued in Antwerp . n.l 

 Hainuult. The cotton manufacture has increased to a remarkable 

 extent within the last few years; many large factories have been 

 and more ore being established in various places, 1>nt 

 looms are still very numerous. East Flanders is the chief seat of 

 the cotton manufacture, the most important establishments being at 

 Ghent, but Antwerp shares in the ImiiineM. About 125,000 work- 

 men are employed in the cotton manufacture ; the goods produced 

 are of the annual value of very nearly 3,600,000?. Flax as we have 

 said is one of the staple productions of the Belgian soil ; a -. . rv 

 large quantity of it is exported, but a large quantity of it is retained 

 for home manufacture. The culture and manufacture of flax are 

 said to employ nearly 400,000 persons. Linen is made throughout 

 Flanders, especially at Ghent, St. Nicolas, Turmonde, Lockeren, and 

 Alost. Damasks and the finer linens arc most largely made at 

 Court ray and Bruges ; they are also made in considerable quantities 

 at Brussels, Neuve Eg'.isc, Tournay, Mechlin, Oudenardc, Graimnont. 

 Renait, Ac. A very large steam-factory has recently been establi.-lii-d 

 at Liege for the manufacture of linens. The value of the linen goods 

 annually manufactured in Belgium is upwards of 4,000,0002. Brussels 

 carpet* have long been famous. The manufacture though considerable- 

 had declined, but appears to be reviving. The chief seat of the 

 manufacture is at Tournay, where about 2500 persons arc emj- 

 in it ; but what are called Brussels carpets are also made in consider- 



