272 



JOURNAL OF HOBTIOULTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDEKEK. 



[ April 8, 1875. 



received the first prize of a framed silver-gilt medal. In a col- 

 lection of variegated plants exhibited by M. Hillegeer of 

 Beveren -we observed a purple-leaved Peach, which if intro- 

 duced to shnibberieB Tvould form an object of interest and pro- 

 duce a good effect. 



Generally speaking, the Camellias were very fine well-grown 

 plants in rude health and abundance of bloom. Where, if not 

 in Belgium, can we expect to see such Camellias exhibited, 

 where they form an article of such extensive commerce ? Bel- 

 gium is as much the home of the Camellia and Azalea as Hol- 

 land is of the Hyacinth and the Tulip. Those who were most 

 successful in the classes for Camellias were M. Ed. Le Grelle 

 already mentioned, who received the framed gold medal, or 

 three hundred francs, for his tall specimens ; and M. Jean Ver- 

 vaen of Ledeberg was second with some well-grown bushy 

 specimens, which obtained the framed silver-gilt medal. The 

 other successful exhibitors in the other classes were M. Beau- 

 came, M. Joseph De Coster, and M. Louis Van Houtte. 



Azaleas, as a matter of course, we expected to see in their 

 perfection at a Belgian show, and we were not disappointed. 

 We have already referred to the great groups that were on the 

 floor of the hall, and these were contributed by M. de Ghellinck 

 de Walle of Ghent, whose splendid group of thirty carried off 

 the first prize of the framed gold medid, value 400f. ; and the 

 second prize of a gold medal of 200f. value was awarded to M. 

 Jean Vervaene. M. de Ghellinck was again successful in the 

 collections of fifteen plants, and obtained the gold medal value 

 200f., while M. Beaucarne was second. For the finest specimen 

 M. de Ghellinck was again successful. 



Rhododendrons were well represented. Orchids were very 

 sparingly exhibited. Amaryllises were shown by M. Van Houtte 

 of Ghent, M. Van der Linden of Antwerp, M. Louis Eeckhaute 

 of St. Denis-Westrem. M. Van Houtte took the first place in 

 every instance, but we could not but remark that the style of 

 flowers cultivated in Belgium would not find favour with us in 

 England, in consequence of their narrow-pointed petals, which 

 contrast unfavourably with the fine, stout, flat, and broad petals 

 of our English strains — those sent out by Messrs. Veitch and 

 Mr. B. S. Williams for instance. 



Hyacinths and Tulips were much fewer in number than one 

 might have anticipated. The season here as well as with us is 

 unusually late, and no doubt the fewness may be attributable to 

 this cause. But it did not prevent Messrs. Krelage & Son of 

 Haarlem coming forward with a very fine exhibition of a col- 

 lection of one hundred varieties. They were in good condition, 

 with long, stout, densely-bloomed spikes, and worthily received 

 the gold medal or 200f. For a collection of fifty Tulips, single 

 flowers, Messrs. Krelage were again first. Cyclamens were well 

 represented by Madame Jean Everaerts of Antwerp, and M. 

 Van Houtte. The exhibition of the former was a fine collection 

 of twenty-five varieties of Cyclamen persicum, which reminded 

 one of the same plants as are exhibited at South Kensington. 

 They were examples of superior cultivation and worthily re- 

 ceived ((i Vunanimitc), the first prize of a silver-gilt medal. M. Van 

 Houtte's collection comprised principally hardy species, such 

 as Atkinsii, ibericum, hybridum, carneum, itc. 



Forced Roses in pots were here, as they always are at our own 

 exhibitions, objects of attraction and admiration. The great 

 gold medal offered by the Queen was very appropriately given 

 for the queen of flowers, and the successful candidate was 

 M. A. A. Peeters, St. Gelles, near Brussels. These were all 

 standards and shown in a close group forming a mass of green 

 foliage with the flowers standing well above it. Being standards 

 they cnme up well to the eye. The second honour fell to 

 Madame Jean Everaerts for a lot of remarkably well-grown 

 plants, which for vigour and luxuriance of foliage surpassed all 

 the other collections. These were dwarf plants of large size on 

 their own roots, well bloomed, and in greater variety of colour 

 than the last-named collection. 



Palma were well represented, and the gold medal or 500f. for 

 the collection of twenty was carried off by Madame Le Grelle 

 D'Hanis, and they were certainly very fine. Madame Le Grelle 

 was also successful in obtaining the large gold medal offered by 

 the King for a collection of twenty Marantas, which filled the 

 whole of the extreme end of the smaller hall. For ten orna- 

 mental plants of different kinds Madame Le Grelle was again 

 successful in carrying off the gold medal, and Baron Nottebohm 

 of Antwerp was second, both having obtained their awards as 

 the prize list says par acclamation. 



In speaking of the gallery on the right we omitted to notice 

 a very rich collection of Ivies in pots shown by M. Charles Van 

 Geert, which received the silver gilt medal par unanimite. 



The most charming plant in the whole Exhibition, and that 

 which attracted most attention as a novelty, was a seedling 

 Bertolonia exhibited by M. Van Houtte of Ghent, having in its 

 venation one of the most beautiful pieces of colouring to bo 

 met with in the vegetable kingdom. The leaves of the plants, 

 which are shown in fine condition under bell glasses, are G to 

 7 inches long, and about half as broad as they are long, of a 

 dark brownish-green ground, relieved with veins of bright ani- 



line purphsh pink. This is sure to become a popular plant in 

 England. 



It would be impossible, or at least not profitable to our readers, 

 for us to notice the exhibitions that were made in every class. 

 We have cursorily gone over the leading collections and given 

 a general sketch of the Exhibition. We will now conclude by 

 noticing a collection which attracted much attention in the Ex- 

 hibition, which was brought by our own enterprising country- 

 man Mr. B. S. Williams of Upper Holloway. This occupied the 

 whole of one division on the side of the smaller hall, and con- 

 sisted chiefly of new and rare plants in bloom. They were not 

 entered for competition, and consequently no prize was awarded, 

 yet Mr. Williams had the satisfaction of knowing from every 

 evidence that his contribution to the Show was highly valued. 



The gold medals of honour of the value of 300f. each, one for 

 the exhibitor living within and the other for the exhibitor living 

 without the Arrondissement of Antwerp who had coutributed 

 most to the embellishment of the Exhibition, were respectively 

 awarded to Madame Le Grelle D'Hanis and to M. Louis Van 

 Houtte. 



Aftek the opening of the Exhibition a grand banquet was 

 given to the Jury in the hall of the Flemish Theatre. The 

 chair was occupied by the excellent President of the Society, 

 Baron de Caters, whose father was president before him. On 

 his right were the Burgomaster of Antwerp, Dr. Hogg, the 

 Burgomaster of Ghent, M. Krelage, M. Kegeljan, and Professor 

 Morren. On his left were M. de Cannart d'Hamale, M. Ronnberg, 

 M. de Ghellinck de Walle, Vicomte de Forceville, M. Alph. de 

 Cock. Among the guests were representatives of all the garden- 

 ing nationalties, such as Mr. B. S. Williams of London; Vil- 

 morin & Thibaut of Paris ; Dr. Mulder, Mr. Van Lennep, and 

 Mr. Willink from Holland. This was one of those sumptuous 

 entertainments with which we have been made familiar by 

 visits to Ghent and to Brussels; and we oanonly say that Belgian 

 hospitality appears to be universal, for the reception we met 

 with at Antwerp was a repetition of those which had already 

 won our hearts years ago, and which have caused them to beat 

 responsively in sympathy with the Belgian people. 



EOYAL HORTICULTUBAL SOCIETY. 



Apkil 7th. 



No fruit was submitted for judgment in the Council-room on 

 this occasion. 



Flor-il Committee.— E. B. Postans, Esq., in the chair. Not 

 extensive but interesting groups of plants were staged at this 

 meeting. Messrs. Veitch sent a very attractive collection, com- 

 prising three distinct Crotons, which had been received from 

 A. H. C. Macaffee, Esq., of Sidney— viz., C.Disraeli, with foliage 

 of great substance, and reminding one by its bold, rigid, and 

 curiously-divided leaves of the Platyceriums. In colour it is 

 deep green with yellow bands. It received a first-class certifi- 

 cate. C. Lord Cairns is similar in colour, and C. variabilis 

 exhibits a mixture of pink, green, and buff. The same firm sent 

 Anthurium violaceum, a dwarf variety with good dark green 

 foliage and clusters of berries, arranged after the manner of a 

 miniature head of Maize, but pendant, and of a delicate lavender 

 violet colour. It received a botanical commendation. Spathi- 

 phyllum Wallisii, an Anthurium-like plant of vigorous habit, 

 and showing several spathes, one of which is expanded ; it is 

 ivory white in colour. Croton appendiculatum, a remarkable 

 green variety of dwarf habit; from the extremity of each leaf is 

 subtended , by a delicate filament of 1 to 2 inches in length, another 

 or sub-leaf, which renders the plant very distinct and curious. 

 Croton tortile, a spiral-foliaged form, of great substance and of 

 dark metallic hue. Dracajna Hendersoni, a plant having the 

 elegant habit of D. Cooperii, with leaves of a singular yet not 

 irregular mixture of colours — white, pink, green, and brown 

 being closely blended. Interesting Droseras — viz., D. dichotoma 

 and D. spathulata (first class certificate), Darlingtonia cali- 

 fornica, Cephalotus foUicularis, and Sarracenias, purpurea, 

 psittacina (vote of thanks), and Stevensii; also Drosophyllum 

 lusitanicum, which had a botanical commendation. These were 

 in remarkably good order, and were exceedingly curious and 

 attractive. Messrs. Veitch also sent Camellia Mathotiana rosea, 

 a very free bloomer and good; and Hyacinth e'na (first-class 

 certificate). This is a semi-double variety of fine substance of 

 petal and of a glowing salmon pink colour. It is very bright, 

 and promises to hold high rank amongst the best of its class. 



Mr. Bull sent a plant of Crinum brachymeua with two spikes 

 surmounted with a dozen flowers, a small Odontoglossum 

 Roezlii, Dracienas insignis (dark), and Candida, which has a large 

 proportion of ivory white in its foliage— both these had first- 

 class certificates awarded ; they are distinct in colour, excellent 

 in habit, and stout in texture of foliage. Mr. Bull also sent a 

 small plant of the curious Masdevallia amabilis. 



Mr. B. S. Williams sent a plant of the graceful Palm Geononitk 

 gracilis ; a plant also of the prickly-stemmed Palm, Martinezia 

 eroaa — both had first-class certificates ; also a nice Orchid, 



