JSO HORTICULTURAL TOUR. 



— the genial nature of the climate, — the facilities afforded 

 by its being ready furnished with the most desirable walls, 

 for peaches, nectarines, plums., pears, and grapes, — it 

 might, in the hands of a person versed in practical horti- 

 culture, become, in a very few years, one of the most de- 

 lightful, as well as most productive spots in the north of 

 Europe. 



So great was the afternoon's heat, that we were glad to 

 retreat for a time into the rustic bowers of a kind of 

 public garden, in the village of Lacken ; and afterwards to 

 linger at a popinjay pole, where a number of young men, 

 with their upper garments doffed, were keenly engaged in 

 the exercise of archery, " shooting the eagle" as it is com- 

 monly styled. We walked home, in the cool of the even- 

 ing, by a long avenue called Allee verte, planted chiefly 

 with limes and elms, and leading into the Rivage or lower 

 part of Brussels. 



Visit to Waterloo. 



Sept. 9. — Although horticulture was our main object, 

 we felt a strong desire to view the field of battle, in the 

 neighbourhood of which we now found ourselves ; and this 

 being the anniversary of the institution of the Horticultu- 

 ral Society, we at once adopted the suggestion of Mr Hay, 

 to suspend our usual pursuits, and to celebrate the day 

 by a visit to the renowned scene. It was now the great 

 fair of Lou vain, and all sorts of vehicles were in requisi- 

 tion for that destination : after some delay, however, we 

 procured a voiture, and set off. 



We soon entered on the principal garden-grounds which 

 supply Brussels with vegetables. They are very exten- 

 sive on both sides of the road ; and being nearly unin- 

 ' loied) cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, savoys, and red cab- 



