394 Horticultural Tour in the Netherlands. 



horticultural productions ; for in which of our cities, with the 

 population of Ghent (80,000 to 90,000), shall we find 300 

 plant amateurs ? At the Aigle d'Or [Golden Eagle] at Bruges, 

 in a small garden not 60 ft. square, was the finest double 

 Althaea frutex I ever saw, forming quite a tree; also a fine 

 Salisburza adiantifolia ; Clethra arborea variegata, jfcev pal- 

 mata, and numerous oranges : these, with many other rare 

 plants, were arranged very prettily in the gardens, for the 

 customers to admire while smoking their cigars; the landlord 

 seemed quite aware of their value, and appeared to have a 

 great taste for plants. To English gardeners, who are used 

 to see evergreens in such profusion and perfection at home, 

 it appears strange to find large bays and laurustinuses in tubs, 

 and as carefully attended to as oranges. The want of our 

 best evergreens, such as the above, and common and Portugal 

 laurels, in the gardens and pleasure grounds of this country, 

 is much felt by an English eye. It seems that the winters are 

 too dry and sharp for them, and the soil too loose, being 

 much like our sandy peat. 



Walking in one of the streets of Bruges, I saw, through an 

 open window, what appeared to be a very pretty garden in 

 the heart of the city, and, upon enquiry, I found that it be- 

 longed to an opulent brewer, M. Buschaert. I obtained an 

 introduction to him, and, as " un fleuriste Anglais," was most 

 politely received. I was highly gratified with finding one of the 

 sweetest town gardens possible to conceive, with serpentine 

 walks and glades, and thickly planted with shrubs and trees, 

 many of them rare. The effect was delightful and striking, and 

 it was increased by my having but a moment before turned 

 from the frequented streets of a populous city. Among his 

 hardy trees, M. Buschaert pointed with evident pride to a 

 beautiful specimen of the rare Pagus cristata, and to one of 

 the Populus grandidentatus : a clump of hybrid azaleas 

 seemed also to have his especial care, and his favourite varie- 

 ties were named Ne plus ultra, Morterii Genio, Tricolor 

 Jacobs, Morteriana, Regina Belgica, &c. &c. He had also 

 some rare stove plants, and an extensive collection of pears 

 en quenouille ; all in the best order, and the place gene- 

 rally as neat as possible. I should think (from memory) 

 between two or three acres were occupied by these gardens and 

 a small orchard ; but so surrounded by houses, that, had I 

 not seen the garden through the open window, I should not 

 have imagined such a place existed. 



I next visited a pear amateur, M. Boukhout, and perhaps 

 never felt more amused with an enthusiast. Numerous stocks 

 were grafted (in the cleft manner) with new varieties for trial. 



