9i HORTICULTURAL TOUR. 



larger ones in hampers. They are, in general, sold by 

 the country people immediately to the inhabitants, with- 

 out the intervention of green-grocers or retailers. In qua- 

 lity, they seem, upon the whole, inferior to those of the 

 market of Ghent. Potatoes should, however, be except- 

 ed : they are perhaps better ; and we here noticed, for 

 the first time, a small red kidney potato of very promising 

 appearance. We procured a few tubers for the intended 

 Experimental Garden. In the fields around Antwerp, 

 we remarked potato blossoms of an uncommonly rich blue 

 colour : these, we were told, however, belonged to a geele 

 aardappcl or yellow potato, not to the red kidney. Par- 

 snips were abundant, perfectly clean and smooth, and 

 already (20th Aug.) of large size. The same thing may 

 be said of horn carrots. The late white Scots cabbage 

 here first presented itself to our notice on the Continent, 

 and in tolerable plenty ; but the Savoy cabbage was much 

 more abundant. The long-shaped variety of black Spanish 

 radish, with roots not unlike parsnips, seems to be the only 

 kind of radish here cultivated : it was very plentiful, while 

 we did not see a single specimen of the round or turnip- 

 rooted variety. In general, these Spanish radishes were 

 very large, exceeding in size any carrots or parsnips brought 

 to market. 



On making inquiry about gardens near Antwerp, we 

 learned that the first in every respect was that of Mr J. G. 

 Sinetz, the principal banker. We waited on this gentleman 

 ;it his banking-office, and were invited to see his garden in 

 the country on the following day. Although Antwerp was 

 once distinguished for its gardens, we could not now hear 

 of* another worth visiting, its botanists and florists having 

 completely pa < <l away. We therefore hired a commissioner 



