26 HARLEM.

calculated for the turnip culture. The natives, however, have no idea of the excellence of that root, or of the mode of cultivating it; the few fields that presented themselves with that crop, were full of weeds; the turnips not hoed, the bulbs very small, and so thickly planted, that it is impossible they should ever attain even a moderate size. The cultivation of potatoes is pursued with more attention, and allowing for the predilection which they entertain in favour of those of a small size, with tolerable success. The potatoe crop is deemed a good preparation for wheat, and in a district where the numerous herds of cows yield such abundant manure, it may be the most beneficial mode of preparing the soil to receive it.

With the slight elevation of the land and the change of soil, the woods assumed a different character. The trees were either of beech, fir, poplar, or ash; and the under- wood consisted of maple, ash, hornbeam, beech, birch, and a very slight portion of oak bushes; some few sheep made their appearance, long woolled, without horns, and the worst framed animals I ever saw of that species.

After passing through the small town of Liss, the road continued with the sand-hills in perfect barrenness on one side, and the beautiful lake of Harlem on the other, till we approached that city; whose entrance is decorated with country-seats of considerable magnificence, and beautiful flower-gardens, which supply bulbs to the horticulturists of their own country, as well as furnish the most beautiful specimens of flowers to the rest of Europe.|

Harlem, or as the Dutch spellit, Haerlem, is a city of 16,000 souls, whose inhabitants have been long celebrated for their in- dustry and ingenuity, and have constantly conducted considerable