. X QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 153 



culture, not fruit and vegetables, the Royal Gardens, Kew, have 

 no equal anywhere. 



Q. But are not the horticultural exhibitions on the Continent, 

 especially in Belgium, much superior to our own ? 



A. Only in a few specialties in plants. As representative of 

 horticulture on a broader basis, and in its various aspects,, the 

 shows bear no comparison with the best of our home exhibitions, 

 in which not only plants and flowers but fruit and vegetables 

 are seen in such splendid condition. 



Q. We have been led to believe that no gardens equal those 

 in Belgium. Have you seen them ? 



A. I have seen many of them, the best being those of the 

 King at Laeken ; but these are not managed by a Belgian but 

 by a Scotchman, Mr. Knight ; and it is a fact that Mr. J. 

 Everaerts, Senator, Antwerp, had his gardener taught English 

 in order that he could read the Journal of Horticulture, and 

 practise British methods of cultivation, as he does with great 

 success. 



Q. That appears to be a complete answer. Do you not think 

 the small cultivators of Belgium, those in the "small holdings 

 paradise," are better off than our working people in England ? 



A. The Belgian peasantry work hard and long, the plots and 

 crops of many being most creditable to them ; but as a body 

 they do not appear to have anything like the home comforts of 

 the English peasantry, and they neither live so well nor dress so 

 well. I am convinced that men in fairly regular employment 

 at home, and who have also good gardens or allotments, are 

 better circumstanced than are the great body of the workers in 

 Belgium. 



Q. Then we are not so far behind after all in matters of land 

 cultivation as compared with others, are we ? 



A. I can best answer that question by saying that when the 

 leading Belgian horticulturists visit this country they are aston- 

 ished by the extent of our market gardens and the high culture 

 in them, as well as the best private gardens, and they are well 

 aware they have nothing to equal them at home. 



Q. As a body, then, do you think the English workers peas- 

 antry manage their gardens and allotments as well as they 

 are managed in Belgium ? 



A. As a rule certainly not. We find a few plots at home 

 admirably cultivated, but many indifferently managed, if not 

 neglected. In Belgium badly cultivated plots are the exception, 

 and if the workers did not strive to the utmost to obtain the 

 best possible crops they would starve. 



