Jan.-Fes., 1919.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 23 
more than 60,000 Cattleya, Brassocattleya, Lelia, Cypripedium, Odonto- 
glossum, and Cymbidium seedlings that had nearly reached the flowering 
stage, and I expected to havea good many fine things to show after the war. 
‘“‘ The situation—about 500 yards from the important railway system of 
Meirelbeke -Station—was a very dangerous one, as the enemy in I9QI5 
established there an enormous ammunition depot and artillery park, and a 
little to the southward an aerodrome for Zeppelins and aeroplanes. From 
that moment there were constant visits by allied airmen, but the damage to- 
the nursery was not great, except a few hundred panes of glass broken, 
which were constantly replaced. On October 15th a fearful bombardment 
began, and for 24 hours there was a rain of iron all over the place, and an 
enormous train of ammunition was blown up. On the 30th there was 
another bombardment, and one bomb fell ona Cattleya house, and another 
about two yards from the entrance of my house, where I stood. Fortunately, 
neither of them exploded. At this time the Germans had, commenced the: ° 
destruction of the railway system, and more than 800 kilometres of railway 
were blown up, several pieces of iron more than’two yards long being 
thrown into the establishment and garden. Meantime a heavy German: 
battery had taken position about 300 yards behind the nursery, keeping the 
Belgian position under constant fire. During the night of November 8th 
the Belgians replied, and in a few minutes half the nursery and part of my 
house were destroyed. Next day I removed my family to Ghent, and 
commeihced the saving of the plants, but my men—all between 16 and 4o— 
could not help, being obliged to hide themselves from the German requisi- 
tion. That night and the following morning—a few hours before the end 
of the war—my nursery and house were again under heavy bombardment 
and were completely destroyed. 7 
“Of my main establishment, composed of 3,000 square metres of glass, 
nothing remains. In an annexe, or second establishment, seven Cattleya 
houses were erected, four of which have been put out of service, and three, 
though much damaged, have been repaired, and contain all the plants that I 
have been able to save from the bombardment and frost.- Had the weather 
been favourable, we could have saved more plants, but on the 11th we had: 
to give up all hope, for all the plants were frozen.” 
We are sure that our readers will join us in sympathising with M.. 
Pauwels in such an appalling catastrophe, and in congratulating him on his 
personal escape. M. Pauwels contemplates rebuilding, and hopes to- 
welcome us again at the next Ghent Quinquennial Exhibition, which, he 
adds, will take place in 1921. Accounts of M. Pauwels’ Establishment may” 
be found in vols. xvie pp. 161-163, and xxi. pp. 236-238. 
Messrs. Sander et fils sent some additional information soon after their 
previous note. Mr. T. Maelstrom, manager of the Bruges’ Establishment, 
