S58 



JOUENAL OP HORTICULTUBE AKD COTTAGE GAEDfiNElB. 



t May 1, 1878. 



twelve hours the storm lasted ; but even then, putting the 

 young wife into the scale — as the trio would force a quarter of 

 a ton weight to kick the beam, and a little more — the loss was 

 of not much value, and he wishes me to tell the world that 

 " Waterloo was worth it all." 



On leaving the establishment of M. Linden, Brussels, I 

 would advise all visitors to step over the way and inspect the 

 Musee Wiertz, and after admiring a feast of much that is rich 

 and rare in Nature's works, they may, perhaps, be astonished 

 at the wonderful examples of art which adorn its walls. It is 

 only two minutes' walk from M. Linden's, and is free to all. 

 For extravagant conception and marvellous execution many of 

 the specimens here have surely no parallel. This extraordinary 

 collection spoiled me for looking at pictures. It may not, 

 however, have the same effect on better judges, and I proceed 

 to inspect what I am a Uttle more competent to speak about 

 — viz., M. Linden's nursery in the Kue du Chaume, Ghent, in 

 charge of his able kinsman, M. Gloner. 



From Brussels to Ghent, via Alost, is not more than an horn' 

 and half by train. The line is bounded by remarkably trim 

 fences, and the country traversed is principally pasture, and 

 is well, perhaps too well, wooded. The arable portion of land 

 is divided into small fields, and evidently better cultivated 

 than is the case south of the former city. The grass land is 

 devoted to beast-grazing, the country being too damp for 

 sheep, of which we saw only one flock in our whole tour. 

 These were lean, long-tailed, foxy-looking specimens, requiring 

 two looks to satisfactorily determine whether there was a dog 

 in charge, and which was the dog. Ai'riving at the old Flemish 

 city I found it very unlike Brussels, and I felt at once that 

 I had left a holiday city of pleasure and reached an industrial 

 centre. 



Ghent is a mixture of the ancient and modern. The streets 

 are wide, the squares spacious, and the bridges numerous. 

 From its size, and turnings and twistings innumerable, a 

 stranger will have no difficulty in losing himself, and without 

 a guide may wander in idiotic bewilderment to find what he 

 wishes. A very able, and withal a very kind guide, Mr. Van 

 Houtte, jun., ushered me into the portals of Linden's, late 

 M. Ambroise Verschaffelt's, seat of business just as night was 

 creeping on, and instead of spending a day I could only give 

 an hour to see and miss seeing the profusion of treasures here 

 located. When we look at this, in conjunction with the Brus- 

 sels collection of plants, we have no longer need to wonder 

 at M. Linden's prominence as an horticulturist, or to be for a 

 moment surprised at the high honours he has won. At Brus- 

 sels would seem to be nursed-up the new-born gems, and the 

 ever-arriving importations, while at Ghent they are increased 

 and matured to the magnificent proportions that under skilled 

 management they are capable of assuming. Not many estab- 

 lishments, and especially in the matter of Palms, can present 

 such a scene of tropical luxuriance as flourishes in the very 

 acme of health and beauty as is here seen under M. Gloner's 

 care. A collection of Palms in exuberant health, and of the 

 varied conformations pertaining to the genus, has a charm 

 of its own, which forces itself on one's attention, extorting 

 admiration from even the most casual and unprofessional 

 visitor. They are a class which must and will find their way 

 into every stately home in this country, and will eventually 

 adorn the boudoirs of English towns and cities in the same 

 maimer as on the Continent. Ferns must yield to them, as 

 being too delicate and fragile for climatic vicissitudes ; and 

 gay-flowering plants, by their transient charms and frequent 

 unsuitableness under adverse influences of insufficient light, 

 insects, and the dust which apartments of urban locale ever 

 afford, must stand aside and make room for a few easy, elegant, 

 interesting Palms. 



Palms are attractive in every stage of growth. If proof is 

 wanted of the infantile elegance of such things as Glaziova 

 insignis, Verschatleltia splendida and melanochietes, and the 

 refined grace of Cocos, especially C. Weddeliana — these, with 

 others, not omitting the useful table Palm Thi'inax elegans, are 

 here, in the aggregate, represented by — yes, thousands, and 

 speak for themselves. If we look for perfected forms we find, 

 besides fine specimens of the above, Latanias (with Cibotiums 

 20 feet across), towering Coryphas, Ai'ccas, and Stevensonias, 

 majestic Zamias, Ceroxylous, and Chamivrops, and striking 

 Jubieas, Welfias, and Kentias, and a hundred others worthy 

 of note, but less indelibly photographed on the memory. But 

 sufficient is said to indicate the riches in this order of plants 

 at M. Linden's celebrated Ghent establishment ; and yet this 

 is only one place amongst others having extraordinary collec- 



tions. In the matter of Orchids and other things the English 

 are distinctly a-head of the Belgians, but in Palms they leave 

 us far behind. This is then- speciahty. 



This place, however, is strong in other good things. Amongst 

 Aroids we find the distinct and beautiful PhyUota;nium Lin- 

 deni in fine form, telling examples of Dieffenbachia latima- 

 culata, and another new and good plant, Curmeria picturata. 

 Dracsnas are in strong force ; gloriosa, lutescens, Guilfoylei, 

 lie, showing to advantage amongst their compeers. Marantas 

 in great variety are growing with a vigour common to Cab- 

 bages, the new one, hieroglyphica, compelling a lingering 

 glance ; but there are others, if less rare, not much less 

 beautiful. 



Outside the houses there was less to note. Azaleas and Camel- 

 Has were in good force, and planted or plunged in a bed in the 

 open air was a fine stock of the Abyssinian Banana, Musa Ensete. 

 A pair of very large specimens of Phormium tenax stand like 

 sentinels at the entrance, but outside show is here, as in other 

 ( places, evidently little aimed at. The place is an enclosure of 

 glass, containing about thirty-sis houses of large dimensions, 

 and everything inside denotes skilful management. Mr. 

 Gloner's courtesy adds to the pleasure of a visit, and an inspec- 

 tion of his charge cannot but be enjoyable to any wandering 

 horticulturist. — J. Weight. 



A CENTURY OP ORCHIDS FOR AMATEUR 

 GROWERS.— No. 8. 



MASDEVALLIA. 

 In this genus we have several gorgeous-flowered species, 

 plants that are extremely popular ; indeed they are tlic Orchids 



Mastlevallia \'citchiaua. 

 (Hot. Mag.). 



of the present time. Masdevallias have been frequently in- 

 troduced, but seldom reached this country in a living state, 



