LEYDENTHE FAT OF THE LAND 305 



in gardens or else he visited Hartecamp through an 

 agent. It is a delightful place, not being on such a 

 dead level as the rest of Holland. The house is shut 

 up during half the year, while its owner lives at the 

 Hague. 



In the pleasant deep bay-window of the central 

 ground-floor room, at the back of the house, or on the 

 great balcony above, Linnaeus often worked, and looked 

 out upon the lawns and lakelet encircled with great 

 purple and copper beeches, and variegated horse-chest- 

 nuts, which have white leaf-masses near the trunk and 

 thick stems, though the rest is green, being able to 

 suck in the sunshine better from being exposed. The 

 windows command views through glades right away to 

 the dykes and dunes. 



The flower-border verges are left fringed with wild 

 plants of all sorts, spreading into and embroidering the 

 lush spring lawns. How we enjoy the delicious coun- 

 trified look of all the plants and trees (we hail from 

 London and Ley den), and having it all to ourselves like 

 this ! for the young gentleman told the gardener to leave 

 us alone to sketch. This civilised verdure if one may 

 so express it is enchanting. From the avenue where 

 I sit I see a brilliantly coloured vista of foliage beyond 

 some emerald green elms, and one tree all over white 

 blossoms, an oak with golden-tufted buds, and then an 

 amber-coloured tree, and beyond again a clump of crim- 

 son beeches. The trees all round are grouped with great 

 taste some of them knew Linnaeus; the borders are 



VOL. I. x 



