240 HORTICULTURAL TOUR. 



present day. It may indeed be added, that, so far as we 

 have had an opportunity of observing, the descriptions 

 given of the Dutch towns by Mr Ray in 1663, Dr Brown 

 in 1668, Mr Misson in 1687, and Dr Northleigh in 1702, 

 are applicable in almost every particular to the same towns 

 at the present day ; so comparatively stationary has Hol- 

 land been, or so averse are the people to changes. 



Amsterdam to Utrecht 



Sept. 3. — On account of the advanced season of the year, 

 we relinquished the plan of going through North Holland, 

 that we might have more time to spend in horticultural 

 investigations at Brussels and Paris. We even sacrificed 

 our fond desire to see Zaardem and Broek, a visit which 

 we could have accomplished in a day. We determined 

 therefore, immediately to diverge to the south-east, and to 

 content ourselves with viewing Utrecht and Breda. 



Before 6 a. m. we procured a coach with wheels to con- 

 vey us to the Beerebyt Inn, on the banks of the Amstel, 

 from which the treckschuyt for Utrecht sets off at that 

 timeous hour. Instead of being assailed by beggars, as 

 at Ghent on a similar occasion, we found ourselves among 

 a crowd of contented and happy looking persons, many of 

 whom seemed to have no other business but to witness the 

 departure of the barge. The morning was delightful, and 

 the changing scenery on the banks of the river afforded us 

 no little pleasure. 



The common reed (Arundo phragmites) is extremely 

 abundant on the margins. It is mown several times during 

 the early part of summer for hay, forming, we should 

 think, a very coarse article of that kind. It is afterwards 

 allowed to grow up, and is cut at the approach of winter. 

 The panicles of flowers being thus retarded, are still un~ 



