224 Observations on the Gardenmg of Belgium. 



ground, is remarkable. But, at the same time, it scarcely ever 

 rots in winter ; and, in most years, can be eaten till the middle 

 of March, at which time it begins to throw up flower stalks. 



Onions^ except in the spongy gardens in the town, are almost 

 always a failure; and, when the seed does come up, the bulbs 

 are very smalh 



The soil agrees very well with carrots: in the dry soils, they 

 must be sown earlier (about February) than in those which are 

 moister. They are well tasted, though, perhaps, not so large as 

 those in England. 



Peas are not so well tasted as in England ; and, from the 

 natural dryness of the climate, the summer crops are generally 

 a failure. The early Charlton and the Prussian blue are those 

 generally cultivated. 



I have never seen a good crop of broad beans during my 

 residence in this country ; the soil appears too light for them. 



Kidneyheans^ particularly the tall-growing kinds, are culti- 

 vated in every garden, and form a dish at every table, both in 

 summer and winter. For the winter use they are first cut into 

 slices, and well rubbed with salt on a board ; and then put into 

 a stone jar, and covered with vine leaves. On the vine leaves is 

 placed a piece of flat slate, merely to cover the orifice of the 

 jar; and on the slate is placed a heavy stone. The jar is not 

 tied down, but placed on a shelf (not the floor) in the cellar 

 (rather dry). The beans, being young, will keep till the July 

 following. They are fit to use two months after they are pickled. 

 When cooked, they must be boiled in two waters, and, if the 

 colour could be preserved, would be precisely the same as beans 

 eaten in the month of July. To keep well, the brine arising 

 from the salting of the beans should be about half an inch above 

 the beans, after they are pressed down by the weight of the slate 

 and stone. The beans made use of ought to be young, and 

 gathered before the seed has come to its full growth. The dwarf 

 buff" and the dwarf mottled ansWer as well as any for preserving 

 in this way ; the negro appears to be a sort not sufficiently 

 tender. 



The soil of this country being sandy is the reason why the 

 'potatoes are so good. I do not think there are above three 

 kinds cultivated ; the large roundish white potatoes, for the 

 pigs ; and the yellow or early summer potatoes, and the red 

 peaty-skinned potatoes, for the table. The latter are of a round 

 middling size, and afford a great quantity of farinaceous matter: 

 when boiled with but little water, they are particularly excel- 

 lent. Potatoes are planted from the first week in April, as late 

 as the end of June, even after the barley has been cut, and as a 

 succeeding crop to it. They require a good deal of manure, 

 and, when sprouting, should be well watered with liquid manure. 



