ANTWERP. 103 



collection of plants is very considerable, and the specimens 

 in general are healthy and vigorous. 



A peach-house and a vine-frame cannot receive so much 

 praise as has been bestowed on these stoves for ornamental 

 plants. In the former, the peach-trees did not appear 

 healthy ; and one cause of this might plainly be traced to 

 the injudicious practice, already more than once hinted at, 

 of making deep pits, for bark hot-beds, immediately in 

 front of the trees ; the roots of the trees, being thus 

 cramped and hindered from spreading, and consequently 

 denied their due degree of nourishment. The production 

 of a dozen of bad pine-apples is perhaps all the compensa- 

 tion received for thus injuring the peach-trees. This sort of 

 faulty structure occurs, more or less, in all the peach-houses 

 which we have seen in the Netherlands. The vine-frames 

 were much of the same nature as those at Oyedonck and 

 Wetteren, formerly described (pp. 63. and 79-)? ana " not 

 better managed. The new wood of this year is yet far from 

 being ripe (21st August), and of course little fruit can be 

 looked for next season. The glass covers were at this time 

 wholly removed ; and the few bunches of grapes produced, 

 were not likely to acquire either proper size or flavour. 

 The melon-beds were also completely uncovered, and 

 the covers stored in the greenhouse: the consequence 

 seemed to be, that the leaves had been scorched and shri- 

 velled by the sun's direct rays : fruit was not wanting ; 

 hut as it is well known that the vigour of the plant de- 

 pends very much on the healthy state of the leaves, the 

 fruit could not fail to be insipid, where these organs were 

 in a great measure destroyed. While we were still in the 

 garden, a heavy thunder-shower began to fall ; and to this 

 drenching rain, both melons and grapes were necessarily 

 exposed, in these open frames. 



