THE EOYAL INTERNATIONAL HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITION, 1912. 5'23 



Monsieur Abel Chatenay, the general secretary of the French 

 Agricultural and Horticultural Committee, says : — . . 



" I have had the opportunity of noting personally how far Inter- 

 national exhibitions have had influence in business relations between 

 the countries taking part. The small number of your English col- 

 leagues who have taken part in our exhibitions could testify suffici- 

 ently as to the results obtained by the growers of Sweet Peas and 

 Carnations and a few other specialities, by virtue of the excellence of 

 their products and through their exhibits, for they have obtained 

 numerous orders from the Parisian public. 



" I consider from another point of view that it is beneficial for 

 horticulturists of various countries to be able to get into touch with 

 their colleagues. It is impossible for questions of general interest to 

 be limited by geographical frontiers and professionals from the various 

 countries should be able to exchange their views from time to time. 

 It is only in a large exhibition where they can meet and know one 

 another either as jurors or as exhibitors. The interchange of ideas is 

 of great interest to all. 



" From this point of view Belgian horticulturists, who are excel- 

 lent exporters, have realized fully the utility of such manifestations, 

 of which their quinquennial show at Ghent is a good example. '■' 



The present secretary of the Ghent Society, to which I have so 

 frequently referred, is Monsieur Albert Ceuterick, and he has 

 favoured me with the following views : — 



" One cannot fully define the immediate effects of our exhibition 

 on the horticulture of Belgium, but our society which for a century 

 has not relaxed its efforts to develop and improve these demonstrations 

 of the horticultural industry is convinced that the result is of incalcul- 

 able profit to the producers. 



" With this view our society and our horticulturists impose heavy 

 sacrifices upon themselves to make them succeed. 



" Horticulture is a subject specially appropriate for exhibitions, 

 but our exhibitions, by their importance and their fame, attract to 

 Ghent the chief botanists, and amateur and professional gardeners of 

 Europe. Some come as judges, others to satisfy their curiosity and to 

 follow the progress of horticulture. 



" Existing commercial relations are confirmed and new connexions 

 are created. Firms which exhibit make the acquaintance of numerous 

 foreigners and widen their outlook. 



"In one word, it is an advertisement of extraordinary importance 

 and it is not necessary nowadays to insist upon the value and advan- 

 tage of advertisement, although its effects are not immediately 

 apparent. Nevertheless, it is our profound conviction that the develop- 

 ment and prosperity of our horticulture are intimately bound up with 

 our quinquennial exhibition. 



You are good enough to suggest that my efforts had something 



