through Belgium and Part of France* 359 



many others only working a few days a week. The nursery 

 gardens here are numerous, and some not of an insignificant 

 description. The first is that of Messieurs Verleeuwen, brothers, 

 who cultivate a good collection of exotic plants. Their grounds, 

 although small, contain two neat houses for stove plants, and 

 six for New Holland plants and camellias : one of the latter has 

 been lately built, with a large bed in the back for the planting 

 out of the newest and best varieties. The place is altogether in 

 good keeping, and the plants are exceedingly healthy. Messrs. 

 Verleeuwen have commenced growing Orchideae within the last 

 year; and some good and rare species of these plants have 

 been lately imported, by one of the brothers, from England. The 

 next nursery is that of M. van Geert, who chiefly cultivates the 

 same sort of plants as Messrs. Verleeuwen ; but his collection is 

 neither so select, nor so rich in expensive plants. Camellias he 

 grows beautifully, and increases fast, having a quantity of large 

 stools planted out in a bed in one of his houses, which enables 

 him to increase them much faster than in the common way. He 

 also grows a great many pear trees en pyramide, azaleas, mag- 

 nolias, &c. &c. There are in his garden at present some of the 

 finest specimens of Magnolm conspicua in flower I have ever wit- 

 nessed ; being one complete mass of bloom from top to bottom. 

 The next nursery I visited was that of M. Alexander Verschaffelt, 

 whose grounds are more extensive than those of the former, as he 

 grows a great quantity of azaleas, magnolias, and many other 

 American plants. He has obtained several good varieties of 

 magnolias from seed, and also a number of fine azaleas. He 

 has several large houses for New Holland plants and camellias. 

 Like most other nurserymen, during the present rage for the 

 Orchideae, he has constructed a small house on purpose for that 

 order of plants. M. Verschaffelt seems a very industrious and 

 civil man, and deserves encouragement. There are many other 

 nurserymen of less importance, the principal articles cultivated by 

 whom are for the supply of the market ; and the superior beauty 

 of the articles produced is surprising, considering the small 

 price for which they sell. Camellias seem to thrive with them 

 admirably, they have an immense number of varieties; but 

 many of these are not worth cultivation, their best varieties 

 being received from England : there are, however, some excep- 

 tions. The family of JSrica seems to baffle all their skill, as 

 there is not a good-looking plant of that genus anywhere to be 

 found, unless it has been received direct from England. The 

 Belgic nurserymen generally lose heaths so soon after their 

 arrival, as to be very shy of importing the expensive sorts from 

 England : they say it is the heat of the climate that kills these 

 plants ; but, in my opinion, it is want of proper treatment, 

 as in some parts of France, which must be quite as hot as 



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