THE ORCHID REVIEW. 205 
ORCHID CULTURE IN BELGIUM. 
“Notes of a British Orchidist in Belgium” would be a more appropriate 
heading for the following article, which consists of a series of notes 
taken during a visit to Belgium on the occasion of the recent Quinquennial 
Exhibition at Ghent. With this explanation, however, the title will serve 
its purpose. 
An invitation to serve on the Jury of the International Horticultural 
Exhibition at Ghent was an honour in itself, and, further, afforded an 
opportunity of visiting some of the principal Orchid collections in Belgium 
which was not to be lost sight of, and, accordingly, a few days before the 
opening of the Exhibition the writer found himself en route to Ostend and 
the quaint old town which, every five years, forms the Mecca to which so 
many horticulturists from all parts of Europe make their way. 
As to the Show itself, we have nothing to add to the report already 
given at page 137, but we may remark, in passing, that the Royal 
Agricultural and Botanical Society of Ghent are fortunate in possessing 
such a suitable building as the Casino in which to hold their exhibitions. 
The arrangements generally were very well carried out. The Jury met on 
the Friday morning, and, after an address of welcome from the President, 
proceeded to their labours. After the judging was completed, the jurors 
were invited to luncheon, after which, speeches were made by the President, 
Comte de Kerchove, the Minister of Agriculture, the Burgomaster of 
Ghent and others, and medals were presented on behalf of the Veitch 
Memorial Committee by Dr. Masters to Comte de Kerchove and Mr. 
Edouard André. 
On Saturday morning, the members of the Jury and representatives of 
various horticultural societies were invited to meet the King at eight 
o'clock, “‘ evening dress”’ being deemed appropriate to the occasion, and, 
after a good look round, His Majesty declared the Show open. A visit to 
the winter-garden of the Dowager Countess de Kerchove took place in 
the afternoon, and in the evening they attended a raout given by the 
Chambre Syndicale des horticulteurs belges. 
On Sunday the jurors, by special invitation, attended a garden party 
at Laeken given by the King and Queen to the diplomatic body and 
nobility, which afforded an opportunity to inspect the fine winter-garden 
and part of the collections. On returning from Laeken, the jury proceeded 
to the splendid saloon of the Theatre and partook of a sumptuous banquet 
given by the Society, at which several State functionaries were present, at 
which, after the usual toasts and speeches, jurors of various nationalities 
expressed their feelings of gratitude for the hospitality and kindness of our 
Belgian friends, The festivities being now completed, the jurors were 
