THE 



GARDENER'S MAGAZINE, 



AUGUST, 1834. 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



Art. I. Notes made during a Professional Journey through Bel- 

 gium and Part of France, for the House of Messrs. Loiv and 

 Company, Nurserymen, Clapton, in March and April, 1834. By 

 Mr. William Garvie, Foreman in the Clapton Nursery. 



1 left London on the 8th of March, for Ostend. I observed here 

 what I had never seen before, viz., that the immense quantities 

 of long-legged pigs, which were feeding on the green parts of the 

 ramparts, were all tied round the neck with a halter, no doubt 

 to prevent them from falling into the steep surrounding ditches. 

 The sand along the shore seems, in dry weather, to blow to a 

 great distance, and in many places lies in large wreaths like snow. 

 There being nothing in the town, or immediate neighbourhood, 

 in the way of nurseries or gardens, no doubt owing to its near- 

 ness to the sea, my stay here was as short as circumstances 

 would permit. 



I proceeded from Ostend to Bruges by the treck-schuyt, or 

 passage-boat, along the great canal ; a mode of conveyance which, 

 where it can be met with, is far superior to going by the dili- 

 gence, on account of the rough paved roads, which are common 

 on the Continent, where no great progress has yet been made 

 in macadamising. These boats are very well fitted up for the 

 accommodation of passengers, the first or best cabin being equal 

 to that of a Margate steamer. What is called the barque de 

 nuit (night boat) is provided with good beds, where a person 

 may sleep as comfortably as in an inn, there being but very little 

 noise on deck. Breakfasts and dinners are provided regularly 

 at the proper hours, and every other sort of refreshment is 

 sold at a very reasonable rate. Soon after leaving Ostend, the 

 country is marshy and barren, the canal lying several feet above 

 it, and being bounded by steep banks. As you advance, the soil 

 greatly improves ; and, I was informed, produces good crops of 

 wheat, rye, and barley. 



Towards Bruges the country is beautiful, being well wooded, 

 and the fields being in a high state of cultivation, The approach 



Vol. X. — No. 53. c c 



