55 



wheat, barley and rye are cut, the sheaves are left in the 

 middle of the field and a very superficial ploughing is 

 given, with applications of chemical manures, and the 

 land is then immediately sown. It is not rare to see 

 some fields cut, ploughed and sown on the same day! 

 While the turnips are growing, two or Uiree hoeings 

 are given and liquid manure is applied. At the end of 

 a few weeks the farmer has a crop of 40,000 kilogrammes 

 of turnips which are consumed on the land, or siloed. 

 If there is still time enough, the land w 7 ill be manured 

 with farm manure and ploughed ready to be sown next 

 spring. 



* * 



Horticulture is a very importanf branch of the Belgian 

 agriculture. Since i83o, horticulture has been making 

 continual progress in Belgium. At the present time the 

 cultivation of plants for ornamentation and exportation 

 is principally carried on in Ghent and the environs. 



The ancient town of Ghent is known in the whole of 

 Europe under the name of Ville de Flore . 



Anciently the Ghent horticulturists used to grow a 

 great variety of exotic plants, but now each horticultural 

 establishment cultivates a very limited number of 

 species. 



The principal plant grown at Ghent is the Azalea 

 indie a : several foreign horticulturists have vainly tried to 

 grow the same species, but they have never succeeded in 

 producing such fine and vigorous Azalea as those produced 

 in Ghent. More than a million of these plants are grown 

 every year. 



Palm trees especially Kentia represent the second 

 important plant produced by the horticultural industry 

 of Ghent : about the same number of palm trees as azalea 

 are grown annually. 



The next most important plant grown is the Orchid, 

 produced for exportation and seed. 



The number of orchids produced is not as considerable, 

 but they are of great value. 



Hot house plants namely : the Croton and Dracaena are 

 also extensively grown. 



