344 



JOCBNAL OF HOETICULTDBE AND COTTAGE QARDENEB. 



[ May 4, 1876. 



over their sides, and is very pretty in this style. It may also 

 be made to aesume a pyramidal aspect ; attention to staking 

 and tying throughout the growing eeason will secure this. Its 

 requirements in the way of root, soil, &o., are eimilar to the 

 yellow-blotched one, and they are both alike subject to be- 

 come infested with green fly. Occasional syringing does much 

 to remedy this, and it is the least troublesome way of keeping 

 the fohage clean and healthy. Failing this the glossy leaves 

 are easily sponged with soap and water. When filth becomes 

 established this is the most effeotnal way of removing it. — 

 J. MuiE. 



THE GREAT CENTENNIAL HORTICULTURAL 

 EXHIBITION AT BRUSSELS. 



(From our Special Beporter.) 



We visited Brussels with great anticipations. We expected 

 to find a display of plants rich in character, great in extent, 

 and, if not novel, yet artistic in arrangement. We expected to 

 find old plants well cultivated, and new plants possessing that 

 charm and interest which plants of rarity and merit alone can 

 command. We expected to find in this nation of horticulture 

 not only the best of the nation's horticultural treasures, but 

 tlie' best of those from other lands. We expected to experi- 

 ence the change incidental to a sojourn in a foreign state, yet 

 feeling at home by the presence of familiar plants and familiar 

 faces. 



We found all these. We found old plants bearing the 

 impress of skilful culture, and new plants in their all-absorb- 

 ing powers of attractiveness. We found not only artistic 

 grouping but taste in arrangement combined with intrinsic 

 individual merit of the plants exhibited — not groups arranged 

 BO as to hide the failings of the plants composing them and 

 which pall on the appetite by close inspection, but collections 

 which, the longer they were looked at, the more closely they 

 were examined, the more satisfying they became. We found 

 the richest examples of the plants of the nation which we 

 visited, and plants also — plants which any nation may be 

 proud to own — which we had seen before we left our shores. 

 We found the welcome we anticipated, the attentiveneas, 

 courtesy, and hospitality which were extended so freely and 

 offered so happily. We found familiar faces, and although 

 on foreign soil did not feel as strangers in a strange land. We 

 not only knew our mission but knew that our mission was 

 known. It was ours, as representing British horticulturists, 

 to recognise the great efforts, enterprise, and success of the 

 friends we visited, and to convey in return the feeling of sym- 

 pathy binding nation to nation in the peaceful bonds of the 

 science in which each is interested and engaged in promoting. 

 We therefore for the time being ignore the "silvery streak" 

 dividing us, and join in the Centennial now celebrated as the 

 ■unity, which time only will bind more closely, of the great 

 family of horticulturists, and now hasten to tell our friends in 

 Britain and those also abroad something of the character of 

 the great gathering which has been brought together in the 

 beautiful city of Brussels. 



If it were not great, how and where could we find an exhi- 

 bition worthy of that designation ? Where can we find more 

 powerful patronage ? Where more enterprise on the part of 

 the managers, or more tempting facilities offered to exhibitors ? 

 With prizes of honour offered by their Mnjesties the King and 

 Queen of the Belgians, there were also 120 gold medals offered 

 for competition, 140 silver medals, and upwards of 200 silver- 

 gilt medals of merit. To some of the grand gold medals were 

 added 100, to others 200, to others, again, 500, and to one 

 1000 francs. Besides these attractive honours the Council of 

 Administration engaged to defray the cost of transit from 

 foreign countries of all consignments of plants sent to the 

 Exhibition. A policy so liberal and spirited could only com- 

 mand success, so far, at least, as regards the richness and 

 extent of the Exhibition, as it is worthy to achieve equal suc- 

 cess financially and commercially. 



In noting the collections exhibited no attempt is made to 

 enumerate the whole of the encoessful exhibitors, the object 

 being to afford a "general idea" of the Exhibition, and those 

 who contributed most successfully to render the event me- 

 morable in horticultural annals. 



Surrounded on all sides by nations advanced in civilisation 

 and refinement, Belgium is peculiarly well situated for being 

 the seat of Horticulture. England, France, Holland, and 

 Germany are her border kingdoms, and from all those king- 

 doms were those who recognised the Great Brussels Centennial ; 

 and although exhibitions on a large scale have latterly been of 



frequent occurrence, and although the spring season of the year 

 is an exceptionally busy time with nurserymen, yet plants Lave 

 been provided and time has been found for a grand diflplay and 

 a reunion of horticulturists at this celebrated gathering. 



The building in which the Exhibition is held is a wooden 

 structure about 80 yards long and .50 yards wide. It i? divided 

 into a lofty central transept and four side avenues, with an ante- 

 room. At each end of the central promenade large mirrors 

 are placed, and over them and at the tops of the pillars 

 national and municipal flags and banners are arranged. The 

 space, although great, is not sufficient to accommodate the 

 plants without crowding, and owing to their continual arrival 

 down to the latest permissible moment there is scarcely time 

 to dispose them attractively, and some of the erections were in 

 a rough and unfinished state. In a word the building and its 

 accessories are not worthy of the splendid plants which they 

 contained. 



At the entrance end of the building some gigantic Palms 

 arrest attention, speoimons which for their size and weight 

 made one wonder how they had been transported and placed iu 

 their positions. The right side of the central promenade is 

 also occupied with Palms and Cycads, splendid plants of Areca?, 

 Phoinicophoriums, Pritchardias, Thrinaxes, Astrooaryums, the 

 distinct Caryota Rumphi, Livistonia Hoogendorpi, Chama)rops 

 in several species. Sea. These are elevated each on its own 

 pedestal, the fronds almost reaching to the roof; and at the 

 front are smaller plants of Phcenix rupicela and reclinata, 

 Cocos Weddelleana, Corypha anstralis, D.-?monorops, Phjco- 

 sperma Alexandra, &c. These collections of Palms are large, 

 and the plants healthy and fine, such as could only be seen at a 

 continental extiibition. 



On the left, and dividing the central transept from the next 

 arcade, are also several large Palms. We next stop at a group 

 of remarkable Ferns, the fronds of many of them being 15 feet 

 in length. Angiopteris hypoleuca, A. Willinckii, and A. Mi- 

 queliaaa from Mr. Willinck, Amsterdam, are of this character; 

 and near these a group of Lycopods, Selaginella Galleoliana 

 being nearly 5 feet in diameter and altogether fine and elegant. 

 We also note fine groups of Phormium tenax variegatum from 

 Madame Legrelle d'Hamis, and we arrive near the other end 

 of the building and take shelter in a grove of Tree Ferns. 

 Balantinm antarcticum was perhaps 23 feet high, the trunk 

 being fully 2 feet in diameter; Cibotium princeps and Gvathea 

 medullaris were nearly of the same height ; Cyathea Dregei 

 had a trunk a foot in diameter and 10 feet in height. Palms, 

 Ferns, and Cycads are also placed in the corners of the 

 building, Mr. Linden being the most successful exhibitor. In 

 striking contrast to these fine plants, and grouped in the side 

 corridors are other Belgian collections, the most important 

 being 



Azaleas. — The plants in these collections are simply mar- 

 vellous for their perfect culture and massive beads. The finest 

 plants we have recently seen in London are poor in comparison 

 with these wonderful specimens. The plants are mushroom or 

 umbrella-shaped, and are from 2 to 5 feet in height; the heads 

 varying in size from the dimenBions of a lady's parasol to those 

 of the largest carriage umbrella. The plants are as perfect as 

 if cast in moulds, the blooms being so densely packed that not 

 only a vestige of foliage is not visible, but it can scarcely be 

 found by the insertion of the fingers and pencil. All are very 

 fine, and the striped and mottled examples of punctulata, 

 scarlet and white, and Souvenir du Prince Albert, rose and 

 white, splendid, are especially conspicuous. Alfred Dclinion 

 was a glowing head ot crimson, and contrasted finely with the 

 soft lilac of its companion, Reine dea Pays Bas. Dr. Living- 

 stone, glowing pink, is extremely effective; and the fiery heads 

 of Eclatante and Roi d'Hollande were quite dazzling. 



In the opposite corridor are also magnificent plants, the 

 most remarkable being Reclinata, Jean Van Geert, Eugene 

 Mazel, Fioribunda elegans, Modele, Mons. Keteleer, Serapis, La 

 Victoire, Flag of Truce, Dnchesse Adelaide de Nassau, Stella, 

 Theodore Preusser, Madame Alex. Hardy, Alwiu Petzdd, 

 Madame Marie Van Eckhaute, Reine des Eoses, Louis Margottin, 

 and La Superbe. Some splendid double, semi-double, and 

 mottled varieties of great merit raised by Mr. Van Houtte are 

 exhibited. Amongst these Marie Van Houtte, Juliette, Franijois 

 de Taye, Alice, Daphne, Madame Alex. Van Lageuove, Jean 

 Van Geert, Mdlle. Leonie Van Houtte, Sigismund Rocker, 

 Mrs. Wright, Comtesse Eugenie de Kerchove, Jules Van Loo, 

 Argus, Baron Ed. Odsy, and Meteore are within the line of 

 vision, and quite superb. The varieties noticed are among.^t the 

 finest exhibition Azaleas extant. The specimens cannot be for- 

 gotten by those who saw them, and every one of these will agree 

 that a description doing them justice cannot be written. 

 Although opinion may vary as to the ideal now accepted as a 

 perfectly finished plant, at present the style is all flowers, no 

 foliage. The principal gold medallists were Mr. Ghellinck de 

 Walle, Mr. Van Houtte, Vervaene, and Van Eckhaute. We must 

 not, however, le.ive the Azaleas without noting one or two 

 varieties. Fimbriata (Schulz), white, and, as Mr. Barron well 



