174 HORTICULTURAL TOUR. 



The pcach-houscs are so contrived as to be capable of be- 

 ing divided lengthwise at pleasure, by means of a wooden 

 partition ; so that grape-vines in front can have heat ap- 

 plied to them, while the peach-trees behind remain exposed 

 to the atmosphere. But, in other respects, the houses are 

 not well constructed. There are pits for tanners-bark im- 

 mediately in front of the peach-trees, which must unavoid- 

 ably bury the roots, and, by cramping their pasturage, deny 

 the trees suitable nourishment. This mode of construction 

 we have already condemned, when speaking of the Baron 

 de Vroeylande^s garden, (page 63.) The general soil of 

 this part of Holland is certainly not favourable to peach- 

 trees. We observed them languishing in the open borders, 

 trained against the walls; and in this house, sufficient 

 pains had not perhaps been taken to prepare a compost for 

 the plants. They appeared sickly and foul, and not like- 

 ly to yield much fine fruit. 



There were several ananas pits, well filled with plants, 

 in good condition. Indeed, we have not hitherto seen pine- 

 apples so well cultivated on the Continent. 



Some standard apple-trees were loaded with fruit. One 

 large tree attracted particular notice, on account of the 

 bright red colour of the apples ; it proved to be the Autumn 

 Calville. Another tree, with fruit of a rich glossy appear- 

 ance, engaged our attention : it was of a variety with which 

 we were unacquainted : the gardener called it the Zyde- 

 hemd or Jerusalem-apple, and assured us that it is esteem- 

 ed at Haarlem. We found another apple, however, to be 

 also called " the Jerusalem ;" one nearly allied to the Passe- 

 ]>omme rouge of the French. 



The pleasure-grounds are pretty extensive. They con- 

 tain numerous clumps of shrubs, and groups of perennial 

 Ik rbeceoui plants, and also of annual flowers. In one 

 place is a small Chinese pavilion, perfectly circular, with a 



