BRUSSELS. 293 



constancy in the field, but for general propriety of conduct 

 when in quarters. 



Sept. 10. — This being the market-day (Wednesday), Mr 

 Macdonald went early in the morning to see the supply of 

 culinary vegetables. He found it very copious. In the 

 market-place and streets adjoining, there were nearly 200 

 carts or small waggons ; and the vegetables were stowed, 

 not only in the body of the cart, but in double rows of bas- 

 kets or hampers, slung below. The bottoms of these bas- 

 kets were not six inches clear of the ground, — a circum- 

 stance from which may be inferred the goodness and level- 

 ness of the roads around Brussels. The articles in gene- 

 ral were of good quality ; and Mr Macdonald brought 

 home specimens of some of the best, that we might examine 

 them more at leisure. 



Brussels' Sprouts. 



Being now on the spot where this culinary vegetable is 

 considered to have originated, — where it has been cultiva- 

 ted and has remained genuine for more than four centu- 

 ries, — and from which it takes its name; 'it maybe ex- 

 pected that we should give such information as we could 

 collect regarding it. 



It is an accidental variety of the Brassica oleracea, dis- 

 tinguished by numerous small crowns, rosettes or sprouts, 

 appearing in the axillae of the principal stem-leaves, and 

 soon causing these to drop off. The sprouts much re- 

 semble Savoy cabbages in miniature, and they are very 

 tender and delicious when boiled. The mode of culture 

 is nearly that applied to the cabbage-tribe in general. 



In Britain, the seed is sown in April, the seedlings are 

 transplanted in June ; the plants are earthed up in Sep- 



