101 HORTICULTURAL TOUR. 



Figs are here produced on small standard trees, resembling 

 spreading bushes. We saw a good deal of fruit, of the 

 blue Ischia variety, and were told that it ripens in the end 

 of September. In November, the shoots and branches of 

 the fig-trees are bent down to the ground, and retained in 

 that situation by pegs : they are then thickly covered with 

 tree-leaves and straw, so as to protect the buds from the 

 severe frosts which usually take place during winter. At 

 the approach of spring, the litter is cleared off, the pegs 

 removed, and the stems supported for -some time in an up- 

 right position, by means of stakes. 



We remarked that a great part of the very extensive 

 walks and borders had been newly raked over this mor- 

 ning, and regretted that the anticipated visit of three Scot- 

 tish horticulturists had probably occasioned no little bustle 

 to the chief gardener and his assistants, who must have 

 been busily employed in this duty from the earliest dawn. 

 The rain, which for some time descended in torrents, soon 

 reduced the freshly scratched walks to a state of puddle ; 

 for they consist of the same soil as the flower-borders. We 

 were thus again forcibly reminded of the advantage result- 

 ing from the well-formed gravel walks of an English gar- 

 den, on which one may pass without the least inconvenience 

 immediately after the heaviest fall of rain. Although no 

 gravel is to be found in Brabant, there is pure sand in 

 abundance; and some benefit would accrue from employ- 

 ing this material in forming the garden-walks. 



The apples, pears, plums, and cherries, in the garden 

 here, are chiefly of sorts well known at home. Mr Donke- 

 Jaar having been in England, we requested of him to spe- 

 cify any good kinds of fruit which he possessed, and which 

 h( bad not observed in the English gardens. He remark- 

 <d, that the period of (he year at which he had visited Bri- 



