9% HORTICULTUBAI TOUR. 



duly appreciated in this part of the Continent. M. Ver- 

 beecq presented us with copies of the latest publica- 

 tions which have been issued by the Ghent Society*; 

 and kindly offered to introduce us to M. Van Hulthem, 

 President of the Botanical Society, and to M. Van Hoore- 

 beke, the most zealous practical botanist at Ghent. 



The Agricultural and Botanical Society was instituted 

 in 1809. It holds annually two Festivals of Flora; one 

 soon after midsummer, called the Salon d'Ete ; the other 

 about midwinter, called the Salon d'Hiver. At these 

 Salons d exposition de Jleurs, the cultivators, both amateur 

 and professional, assemble from far and near, in great 

 numbers, almost every one contributing something to the 

 general show. The public authorities, at the same time, 

 give their countenance and support to these meetings. 

 The flowers exhibited are most commonly planted in 

 flower-pots ; so that they arrive unfaded, and, by a little 

 attention to shading and watering, continue in full glory 

 during the exhibition, which generally lasts for three or 

 four days. An honorary medal is awarded at each meet- 

 ing. By a pleasing fiction, the flowers alone are regarded 

 as competitors, and the successful plant is said to be 

 " crowned. 11 The crown is bestowed on the plant which is 

 declared, all circumstances considered, to be the finest pro- 

 duction of the salon; the excellence sometimes depending 

 chicflv on the rarity or novelty of the plant, and sometimes 

 on the size and splendour of an individual specimen of a well 

 known species, indicating superior culture and treatment. 



• ** Discours sur Tetat ancien et modcrne de f Agriculture et de la 

 Botanique dans lee Pays-Baa, par M. Van IJulthem, Juin 1817." — " Ex- 

 t r-tit da Di court prononcl an Salon de Flore a Gand, le 29 Juin 1817, 



i .i \i. Corn 



