28 



HISTORY OF GARDENING. 



Part I. 



indeed, rhododendrons, magnolias, and azaleas thrive exceedingly. In the open border of the flower- 

 garden we saw dahlias in great vigour and beauty. 



Several kinds of tender plants were plunged in the open border for summer, particularly the Peruvian 

 heliotrope {Heliotropium Peruvianum), the specimens of which were uncommonly luxuriant, and, being 

 now in full flower, spread their rich fragrance all around. The European heUotrope {H. Europceum) is 

 likewise not uncommon in the flower-borders. 



In the fruit-garden we first saw pear and apple trees trained en pyramide or en quenouille e. pre- 

 serving only an upright leader, and cutting in the lateral branches every year. 



The hot-houses cover the north side of the fruit-garden. In the centre is a stove or hot-house for the 

 most tender plants ; on each side of this is a green-house for sheltering more hardy exotics during 

 winter ; and at each extremity is a house partly occupied with peach-trees, and partly with grape vines. 

 In the space of ground before the houses are ranges of pine pits and melon frames. One frame is dedi- 

 cated to a collection of cockscombs {Cclosia critata), and these certainly form the boast of M. Bertrand's 

 garden ; they are of the dwarfish variety, but large or strong of their kind, and in brilliancy and variety 

 of colour, they can scarcely be excelled. 



123. The villa of M. Meulemeester and the place of Marieleerne, in the neighbourhood 'of Ghent, are 

 described, but they were both in very bad order, though tolerably laid out, and having a good many hot- 

 houses, 



124. The villa ofM. Hopsomere is remarkable for three acres covered with groups of American plants of 

 great size and in the highest degree of luxuriance. An irregular piece of water expands itself among the 

 groups, and forms numerous bays, islets, sinuosities, &c. The surface is generally of turf, but in some 

 places in earth, with edgings of heath to the walks; the walks are without gravel; and the gardener, as in the 

 other places visited, was wretchedly habited, without shoes or stockings, and could not read. {Hort. 

 Tour, 74.) 



125. The seat of Madame VUain Quatorze (Jig. 10.), like most of the others mentioned, 

 and villas in general in this country, is interspersed vv^ith water, and the boundary of the 

 demesne, instead of being a wall, hedge, or belt of plantation, is a broad canal, over 

 which of course is seen the adjacent country. The grounds are of considerable extent, 

 and include a farm, pleasure-ground, kitchen and flower garden. A plan of a part of 

 the grounds round the house has been given in the horticultural tour, in which the fol- 

 lowing objects are indicated : — 



A hot-house for exotic plants, (a) 



An aviary with shrubs for the birds to perch upon, (i) 

 Gardener's room, (c) 



Green-house. Entrance by flight of wooden steps. {</) 

 Stove for exotic plants, (e) 

 Dry stove. (/) 



Picture-gallery of a considerable height. It has an arched 

 roof, and is lighted from the top. {g) 

 Dwelling-house, (/i) 



A large mirror is placed at the end of the passage. Lamps 

 are suspended from the ceilings of the house, gallery, green- 

 house, and stoves, at different places (+). When lighted, 

 the whole line, from the one extremity to the other, must be 

 reflected by the mirror. (0 



Grape and peach' houses. Peach trees are planted at the 

 back wall of each, and vines at the front, {/c, k) 

 Pits for green-house and stove plants. (/, /, /, /) 

 Pits for melons, cucmnbers, and o'.her tender plants, (m m) 

 Large bam. (n) 

 Stable and cow-houses, (o) 

 Part of the kitchen-garden. (;;) 

 Part of the pine-apple stoves. (7) 



(-om fields, and a crop of Indian com, wheat, hemp, &c. (r) 

 The principal floor of the house and the picture gallery are 

 upon the same level, but there is a rise ot a few stei)S to tlie 

 Hoors of the stove and grreen-house, which are elevated above 

 the ground more than nine feet. 



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126. The place of M. Smetx is the finest near Antwerp. It was laid out in 1752 partly in the Dutch and 

 partly in the English taste, and contains at present, scenes of tonsile evergreens, vistas, canals, lakes, 

 secret water-works, caves, tOmbs, a lawn with a flock of stone sheep, a shepherd and dogs, dwarfs, a 

 drunkard, and other paltry contrivances. There are, however, good span-roofed hot-hou.ses, rustic 

 seats, fine exotic trees, especially the purple beech (which here seeds freely, and comes purple from the 

 seed), catalpa and liquidamber, fine collections of dahlias, asclepias tuberosa, and lilium superbum, 

 in extensive groups ; and on the whole " as many natural beauties as can be expected in a flat 

 country, and instances of good taste and judicious management more than counterbalanced by those 

 of an opposite description." {Hort. Tour, 110.) 



127. The villa of M. Caters de Wolfe near Antwerp is remarkable for two elegant curvilinear hot-houses, 

 erected by Messrs. Bailey of London, and glazed with plate glass. Their effect surpa'sses any thing 

 of the kind on the continent. A rich collection of the choicest exotics has lately been procured from 

 the Hackney nursery. 



