9° 



IRISH GARDENING 



The Ghent Exhibition, 



By Sir F. W. Moore, M.A. 



Since L808 the Union of Ghenl Nurserymen has 



promoted and brought to a successful conclusion, 

 a quinquennia] International Flower Show, an 

 event which always has excited much interest in 

 horticultural circles, and which invariably has 

 drawn together a number of experts and 

 enthusiasts from all countries. The show which 

 has just terminated was no exception in this 

 respect. its international and cosmopolitan 

 character being fully maintained. It has fallen 

 to the lot of the writer to see seven of these shows, 

 and if comparison be permissible it may be said 

 that the 1913 show in point of excellence of 

 cultivation, of artistic and bold grouping of 

 plants, and of fine scenic effect, was quite equal 

 to any of its 

 pi edecessors. 

 In point of 

 general in- 

 terest and of 

 new and rare 

 plants shown 

 in all classes 

 except Orch- 

 ids, 1 here is 

 a distinct 

 falling off. 

 For instance, 

 in taking a 

 general view 

 of the plants 

 exhibited a 

 f e w (» n I y 

 struck the 

 w rite r as 

 likely to be 

 heard of in 

 t Ic fut ure in 

 Ireland, i ilu 



be generally 



useful lor cul- 

 t i \ at ion in 

 t his count py. 

 There were 

 ( 1 ) ( Jamellia 

 Vifd San- 

 der, shown 

 b y F. S n, n- 

 der and bils. Bruges, a line semi-double dark 



red-flowered variety, the petals charminglj and 

 loosely arranged, nicely crimped. Eoliage small, 

 eleganl and glossy, habit compact, plant very 

 ftoriferous. Camellias are quite hardy in most 



part-, of Ireland, and thrive in soils free from 

 lime, and as this is a, late flowering variety, it 

 will probably escape spring frosts. (2) Pseonia 



I .a Lorraine, a lull double pale yel low- (lowered 

 I'aony of the Mouian type, shown by Mons. 

 Lemoine of Nancy. This is quite a unique colour 

 in Tree Peonies, and the plant is in every way 

 charming and desirable. It was one of the besl 

 things in the show. (3) Azalea " Blushing 

 Bride," a- delightful soft pale flesh pink Azalea 



indica, with large double well-shaped flowers, 

 good large foliage, and nice fret! habit. This is 

 in every respect a desirable plant, and is certain 

 to make its mark, and to retain its position as one 



of the best of the evergreen section of A/.alea for 



decorative purposes. Several groups of it were 

 exhibited, and each group was surrounded by 



The Large Hall at the Ghent Exhibition. 



admirers. Azalea indica has so long been grown 

 as an indoor plan] thai it is scarcely recognised 

 that most of the varieties are quite hardy in the 

 milder parts of Ireland, especially in moist and 

 sheltered situations. Should this new variety 

 lend itself to outdoor cultivation it will be a 

 welcome and much valued addition. 



The Ghent Show is essentially an Azalea show ; 

 indeed it may be said that it is chiefly in the 

 interest of Azaleas, the staple article of Belgian 

 horticultural enterprise, that this great show is 

 always held in the latter part of April, and in 

 whatever other directions there may be signs of 

 decadence, there is improvement each quin- 

 quennial period in Azaleas, improvement in 

 quality, in type of plant, and in cultivation. 

 This year's show is no exception, the only falling 

 off being in large specimen plants, for which. 

 chiefly owing to their unwieldy size and the 

 difficulty and expense of housing and handling 



them, there 

 is a diminish- 

 ing demand. 

 Some idea of 

 the di in e n- 

 sions of the 

 Azalea ex- 

 hibits may be 

 gathered 

 from the fad 

 t h at t h e 

 groups cov- 

 ered over 

 two and a 

 half acres of 

 space in the 



large hall. 

 and t he gen 

 e r a I effect 

 can bejudged 

 from the il- 

 lust rations in 

 these pages. 

 They w ere 

 there in all 

 shapes from 

 the usual Mat - 

 headed Con- 

 i inental t ype 

 to t he sharp- 

 pointed cone, 

 in all sizes, 

 from t he 

 to Large half 

 in diameter, 



to deep 



was t In- 



sula 11 



-lobe 



in al 



red 



plant for table decoration 



shaped specimens 5 to '*> fl 



Azalea colours from pure whit 



and a wonderfully striking cNa 



result. The only other group of plants in 

 which advance was shown were the Orchids, and 

 in these the advance is even more marked. The 

 groups shown in 1913 were beyond 1 he wildest 



dreams of exhibitors, say -~> years ago. in L888, 

 and this great change is chiefly due to the skill 

 of the hybridist. The most striking plants were 

 those of garden origin. Vuylsteke's Odontb- 



glossums and Pauwels ( 'y in bid i u ins attracted 



much attention, and were deservedly admired. 

 Two Orchids which excited enthusiasm, and I 

 may safely say alsoenvy, were in .Mons. Jules live 

 de Crom's group. Miltonia Jules live de Crom, 



.i lovelj pure white variety, with a dark deep 



red eye, was probablj the finest and most valuable 

 Orchid in the whole show. Cattleya Schroederse 

 var. Louise I'. Pauwels' is by far the fines] white 



SchrcederSB known Up to the present. The 



