l 2?0 HORTiCtJLTUKAL TOUR. 



rience Learned, that, in " diligence" travelling, it is quite 

 proper to make that preliminary preparation, and we ex- 

 changed with satisfaction our musty-scented and dirty apart- 

 ments for a stage-coach, crowded with young Antwerpians 

 Leaving town in their holiday-apparel. The morning was 

 bright and serene, and displayed in all its beauty a rich 

 and well wooded district, which acquired additional charms 

 from being contrasted with the prevailing dreary scene of 

 yesterday. 



We changed horses at Cont% a pretty village, surround- 

 ed with gardens, orchards, and rich fields of clover. Ly- 

 ceum barbarum appeared in the hedges, and at this time had 

 the fruit formed upon it. We could distinguish the large 

 leaves of Catalpa-trees in the gardens ; and the elegant fo- 

 liage of the acacia (Robinia pseud-acacia) often presented 

 itself. Mr Hay here took notice of a curious and very neat 

 beech-hedge, about five feet in height. The plants were 

 placed in a straight line, at equal distances, but had been 

 planted in a slanting direction, and were made to pass each 

 other obliquely in the manner of a St Andrew's cross : they 

 had at first been retained in that posture by tying, but this 

 seemed no longer necessary, the branches having united by 

 natural inarching. 



The next stage was Malines or Mechlin. This is a 

 large city, the metropolitan see of Austrian Flanders, and 

 the birth-place of old Dodonaeus. The coach stopped 

 in tho Grande Place, not far from the great church. This 

 church appeared to be a noble structure, and Mr Mac- 

 donald, who made a hasty visit to it, reported that the in- 

 terior was richly decorated. Doubtless the gardens and 

 nurseries in the neighbourhood of such a city, would have 

 a fiord < -d us a pleasing and perhaps profitable treat. The 

 garden of Mr Wiegers had been recommended to our at- 



