10 Journey through Belgium 



ing; it is 360 ft. long, 50 ft. wide, and 40 ft. high, with a slated 

 roof, and contains a very large stock of as handsome and healthy 

 orange trees as are to be found any where. The pleasure-grounds 

 have been lately increased, and are very extensive, but require 

 the introduction of new ornamental plants, and particularly of 

 evergreens, of which they, like most of the pleasure-grounds 

 in these countries, are almost wholly deficient. 



At Enghien, a few miles beyond Brussels, there is a nursery 

 garden, belonging to M. Parmentier, who has a considerable 

 collection of exotic plants, and amongst them some rare and 

 good species. The Duke d'Aremberg has here a small country 

 residence and garden; the range of hot-houses, &c, in it is 

 handsome and extensive ; but the duke's collection of plants, 

 though spoken of here as good, contains little that is rare. 



The road from Brussels, through Louvain, is slightly undu- 

 lated and well wooded. The land is tolerable, but not rich. At 

 Louvain there is a botanic garden, containing a good collection 

 of tropical plants and others, which are in a state of high cul- 

 tivation : the place is altogether in good keeping, and does high 

 credit to M. Donkelaar, the head gardener, who, for civility and 

 attention, is an ornament to the establishment. The Duke 

 d'Aremberg has near this a large old mansion, in ruins, and an 

 extensive and tolerably well kept kitchen-garden, in which are 

 cultivated some very excellent apples and pears. There is a 

 considerable extent of land, here called pleasure-ground, in t the 

 most neglected state that it is possible to conceive. 



M. van Mons, M.D. Professor of Chemistry, &c, has given 

 very great attention to the cultivation of pears. On visiting his 

 garden and fruit rooms, I had ample proof of his labour and 

 attention. Both must have been incessant, and the result must 

 be of great public advantage. He has sown seed, and proved 

 the quality of the produce of, as I was told, eleven thousand 

 seedling pear trees , from these, they say, he has obtained about 

 three hundred good sorts. I saw the fruit of many of excellent 

 quality, adapted to the various seasons and objects for which this 

 fruit is applicable. I hope the day is not distant when all the 

 really good sorts will not only be cultivated in this country, but 

 also accurately described. 



The road to Liege is through a country of little interest to the 

 traveller. The land is tolerable, but the cottages are miserable 

 poor clay huts, and the general surface of the country is bleak 

 and open, for want of bridges and trees. At Liege, a large 

 town on the banks of the river Meuse, which is there about 

 equal in width to the Thames at Chelsea, there is a nursery 

 garden, kept by Mr. Jacob Makoy, where an excellent col- 

 lection of exotic plants is cultivated. Coals are here abundant, 

 and also from this place to Namur. The road is on the bank of 



