60 HORTICULTURAL TOUR. 



bag. On the rich pasture of this meadow were grazing 

 several hundred fine cows, chiefly of black and white colours, 

 belonging to the inhabitants of the neighbouring villages, — 

 forming, altogether, one of the richest cattle scenes that can be 

 imagined. Completely, therefore, do we differ from Este, 

 who, somewhere in his Journal, alleges, that " cattle make 

 no part of the charm of the leafy landscapes of Flanders." 

 'We passed through a large additional detachment of 

 villagers 1 cows on their way to this remarkable meadow : 

 each had a piece of basket-work tied over its mouth, 

 which, while it nowise impedes the animal's breathing, 

 effectually prevents its doing any injury to the trees in 

 the avenues, in going to and from the pasturage The in- 

 terest of the scene was at this time heightened, by the low- 

 ings of this detachment meeting with regular responses 

 from distant parts of the meadow. 



The garden is laid out with some taste ; but it was not, 

 at this time, in good order. The Baron was now at Brus- 

 sels attending the Court ; and his absence might, perhaps, 

 account for some remissness in regard to neatness, if not 

 excuse it. A few statues, all of stone, appear in the 

 pleasure grounds and garden; and are judiciously dis- 

 posed. The collection of ornamental flowers, both hardy 

 and tender, is very considerable. Our attention was 

 rivetted by some fine double-flowered dahlias, now in per- 

 fection in the open border ; they were of different colours, 

 but chiefly pale and dark purple. A variety of Rosa 

 Indira with variegated flowers, was new to us; and 

 a specimen of Digitalis sceptrum surprised us by its 

 great size, being about ten feet high. The Angelica-tree 

 (Ar.ilia spinosa) was large and beautiful in the open bor- 

 der, any injuries of winter being (juickly remedied by the 

 bright and warm summer of this country . 



