Foreign A^otices. 431 



cumference at the level of the ground is about twenty-three feet, and 

 in the narrowest part of the trunk, about eighteen feet. The thickness 

 of the wood of the trunk is from nine to twelve inches; and in the pro- 

 jecting part it varies from three to four inches. {L'Echo du monde Sa- 

 vant, April, 1837 — translated into the Gard. Mag.) 



BELGIUM. 



Grand Shoiv of Plants at Ghent, in March last. — This display of 

 plants was probably one of the most extensive and magnificent that was 

 ever made. Ghent and Brussels are both famous for the number of 

 their gardens, and for the choice collections which are cultivated therein. 

 Some notice of the most celebrated of them will be found in our I, pp, 

 352, S86. The prizes were open to ail classes, from all parts of the world. 



The occasion must have been one of great gratification to the ama- 

 teur gardeners and nurserymen who witnessed the exhibition. Many 

 of the most celebrated cultivators of Antwerp, Brussels, Frankfort, 

 Louvain, Vienna, Paris, and London, were present, and actetl as judges 

 for awarding the various prizes. Of the exact number of plants sent 

 for exhibition we are not informed, but the specimens were all register- 

 ed, and we observe, in the report from which we quote, one number as 

 high as four thousand seven hundred and eighty-six. One can hardly 

 imagine the effect produced by such a vast number of the handsomest 

 and most valuable plants in cultivation, collected together and arranged 

 in such a style as to show them ofi'to good advantage. Our annual ex- 

 hibition, of which we think so highly, would sink into insignificance 

 compared with such a truly grand and noble display of the most mag- 

 nificent tribes of the veget:ible kingdom. The following is a condensed 

 account of the plants exhibited, and the award of the judges: — 



Frizes for all classes, and fom all parts of the world. — 1st. The 

 gold medal for the best collection of plants in flower, of which the low- 

 est number of specimens was fixed at twenty, to Mr. J. F. Vandermae- 

 len, Brussels. [A most interesting account of Mr. Vandermaelen's gar- 

 den will be found in another page. — Cond.'\ 



The silver medal, (first class,) Mr. Jacob Mackey, Liege. 



2d. The silver medal for the plant in flower most remarkable for its 

 beauty and good cultivation, Mr. Ferd. Reynders of Brussels, who ex- 

 hibited a Dryandra longifolia. No. 3022. 



The silver medal (1st class.) Mr. Jacob Mackej', for Drj'andra plu- 

 mosa. No. 3707. 



The other plants and shrubs admitted to the honor of contending for 

 the i)iize for the best cultivation, and which are, by the admission itself, 

 •entitled to " honorable mention," are as follows: — 



Helicona speciosa, Mr. P. J. De Catens, Antwerp. 



Amaryllis Johnsons maxima Mr. H. Donckelaer, (the son,) Louvain. 



Azalea Smith/j coccinea, Rhododendron RusselhVwmm and J?. Smithw 

 elesrans, Mr. H. Smet, Lisle. 



Dryandra longifolia, Mr. F. Reynders. 



Banksta marginata and Dryandra cuneata, Mr. Jacob Mackey. 



Camellia var. Farthouiunu, Donckelaert, and elegans londoniensis, 

 the Horticultural Society of Antwerp. 



E'pacris impressa, Oncidium Papilio,Limod6rum TankervjllfE, Mona- 

 chanthus liiteus, Laj'lia anceps, J?hododendron arboreum, Camelh'a 

 reticulata, C. var. striata, Paeonta suffruticosa, Polygala cordata, Banks- 

 ia marcescens, Banksia ensifolia, Zamia horrida and Strelitzmjuucea, 

 M. F. Vandermaelcn. 



3d. No medal was awarded for the best collection of camellias. 



