496 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ June 15, 1882. 
three weeks, but for my own use I prefer the above Broccoli, of 
which at this date (June 12th) we still have a few.— W. Iggulden. 
A WEEK IN BELGIUM.—GHENT. 
[THE SIXTH HAY— Continued.'] 
A first visit to a place is naturally invested with more than 
ordinary interest, and the various features appear to be impressed 
on the mind with more than usual force. With several of the 
renowned Ghent nurseries I became familiar years ago, but not until 
last autumn had I the privilege of inspecting the great establishment 
—greater than I expected to find it—near the Porte d’Anvers, and of 
spending 
TWO HOURS AT VAN GEEUT’S. 
In one respect this manufactory and emporium of plants stands 
alone, inasmuch as there does not appear to be any other particularly 
notable nurseries near it, as is the case on the other side of the city, 
where at least half a dozen may be seen from one standpoint. But 
if isolated and some two miles from the railway station, or the Place 
d’Armes, time is well spent in visiting Van Geert’s. A drive through 
the principal streets, with quaint old buildings all around and the 
queerest of names indicative of the ownership and calling of the 
several occupants, is alone interesting. Englishmen soon find they 
are appealed to in a very characteristic manner, and if they “ keep 
their eyes on ” the taverns, or estaminets, they will be surprised and 
perhaps a little amused to find in how many ways a favourite dish 
may be rendered—not cooked, but spelt—without giving it cor¬ 
rectly. We find biftik, befsteek, bifsteyk, and beefstik (and bier), 
with some other modes; but seldom, if ever, do we see a pure example 
of old English orthography on a Flemish tablet meant to express that 
the substantial fare of beefsteak can be had within. i: Bier” is nearer 
the mark ; indeed, it is not impossible that teetotallers exist who 
may conclude that not an inappropriate name for a beverage which 
is loved and hated with such great intensity, according to taste. We 
find good English, however, when we arrive at Van Geert’s, and 
especially if the pleasant proprietor of the nursery is at home. 
Like other of the Belgian nurseries there is no outward display 
here. Business, not show—work, not spectacular effect, is the first 
impress that is stamped on the mind of the visitor. The Ghent nur¬ 
series are emphatically industrial establishments—plain workshops 
of a great trade, the connections of which extend all over the civilised 
and some of the uncivilised world. A square, substantial, commo¬ 
dious house, a portion of it the business bureau, with its plain furni¬ 
ture, parallel ranges of large and lofty curvilinear structures shaded 
with bamboo blinds, and the glass ends coloured with a blue pig¬ 
ment ; long rows of standard Bays—hundreds of specimens, stately 
and symmetrical ; beds of Azaleas and other plants planted out, 
sheltering hedges of Limes and evergreens, and borders of trim Coni¬ 
fers ; men rushing to and fro in blouses, sabots, and black jean caps. 
These are the ordinary workmen, the diggers and delvers and water 
carriers ; foremen and young gardeners a little more spruce but not 
less busy. Imagine something like this, and you have a general idea 
of M. Auguste Van Geert’s nursery. 
Let us glance inside the structures. They are numerous and full 
of plants, some large and rare, others new and limited in numbers, 
others again of proved merit and in brisk demand represented in 
thousands. We enter a mixed house of Palms, Cycads, Ferns, and 
Aspidistras. The specimens are mostly in pairs, with here and there 
groups of fresh arrivals, such as a fine importation of Areca lutescens 
from Brazil ; fine pairs cf Areca sapida of great size; Livingstonia 
Hoogendorphi, 8 feet across, with grand leaves ; Cocos Mikaniana, 
8 to 9 feet, with leaves 18 inches wide and bifurcated, striking and 
rare ; Kentia Wendtlandi of the same size, leaflets 18 inches long and 
2 to 3 wide, tapering to both ends—unique; Encephalartos Hilde- 
brandti, very large; specimen Tree Ferns of great size, such as 
Cyathea Dregei, C. dealbata in fine colour, and C. Gardneri with 
trunks of 4 to 5 feet, and very rarely seen. Those are submitted as a 
sample of the stock in this and other similar houses, dwarfer plants 
of various kinds occupying all the interstices, so that no space is 
lost. 
We pass to a lower house—a long pit-like structure filled with 
Gloxinias in all the leading continental and English varieties ; new 
double Bouvardias in course of rapid increase, and a large batch 
of Cyperus laxus variegatus. Next comes an Orchid house contain¬ 
ing clean portable plants of Coelogynes, Dendrobiums, Odontoglos- 
sums, ar.d Masdevallias, with Anaec'tochilus Lowii in splendid con¬ 
dition. There are, however, no such collections of Orchids in Belgium 
as in England, but their numbers are increasing to meet the growing 
Parisian demand. More striking is theAroid house, which is crowded 
with a complete assortment of plants including Philodendrons and 
Anthuriums, large and small; A. Thibautianum being grand, with 
A. Veitchii, A. Warroqueanum, and A. Andreanum in considerable 
numbers and admirable condition. A similar house is chiefly devoted 
to Caladimns—thousands of them in eighty varieties, the most strik¬ 
ing being a new form from Portugal, C. Manoel, all the centre being 
white with a clean dark green margin. Next is a colony of Nepenthes, 
including N. bicalcarata ; a group of the pretty Peperomia prostrata, 
a fine lot of Stevensonias, and a number of plants of the striking 
Fern Aspidium Germinyi. We pass without entering a long house of 
young Palms, principally Areca lutescens, with Ferns in variety. 
Another structure is occupied with Areca Verschaffelti, conspicuous 
and attractive by its white midrib ; elegant Cocoses, and Daemo- 
norops palembanicus. 
Another house is occupied with Dracaenas, which are grown and 
sold by the thousand. D. terminalis was in splendid colour, and an 
order for a thousand was being executed. A long pit was filled with 
fine-foliaged Begonias, which are coming into fashion again, and no 
wonder, for some of the newer varieties of rex and discolor are very 
beautiful. One of the finest, for which there is a great English demand, 
is Louise Chretien, the dark velvety foliage with silvery markings 
being very rich. Dieffenbachias occupy much space, all the forms 
being represented; a new one from Italy, D. Memoria Corsi, with.white 
and green blotches, being very distinct. Marantas are largely grown 
in all the leading varieties. 
A large house is quite filled with Crotons, which are kept as cool 
as possible that they may travel the better, Baron James Rothschild 
and Truffautiana perhaps especially noteworthy. We come to another 
hundred-yards-long house of small Palms. There are thousands of 
them—Latanias, Arecas, Kentias, Phcenixes ; and yet another of 
smaller Cycads and Palms. Then a range crowded with Ferns old 
and new, another in fine contrast filled with Bromeliads, Tillandsia 
splendens being in great force. 
In the propagating house were the new plants in process of increase, 
all the best specialities from English and continental nurseries being 
obtained, and stocks raised a9 rapidly as possible. 
Apart from the glass department a considerable space of ground is 
devoted to ornamental trees and shrubs ; but by far the most striking 
effect here is produced by long rows of beautiful standard Bays in 
tubs, with straight stems and symmetrical heads arranged on each side 
of the walks. There must have been half a mile of these Bay avenues. 
Such specimens are in demand for the decoration of terraces, squares, 
and in the quadrangles of hotels on the continent, a few, but only a 
few', being employed in England ; yet there are undoubtedly posi¬ 
tions, especially in towns, for which they are well adapted, as they 
occupy little space, and afford relief to masses of masonry w'here 
trees cannot be planted. The pairs are exactly matched both in re¬ 
spect of the height of the stems and the size of the heads, the former 
ranging from C to 8 feet from the ground to the foliage, the latter 
being from 2 to 4 and more feet in diameter. They are kept in fault¬ 
less form and in excellent health. 
In the nursery were several beds about 4 feet wide, filled with 
prepared soil and planted with Azaleas. This is a practice adopted 
in nearly all Belgian nurseries, and is the secret of the fresh, vigorous, 
small, floriferous plants that are sold socheaplyin our English flower 
markets. That many of the plants die after flowering or eke out a 
lingering existence is pretty well known ; but this is good for trade, 
and they are, even for one display, at least as well worth the money 
they cost as Hyacinths are. These Azaleas succumb, however, mostly 
because thousands who purchase them when in flower neither possess 
the means nor the skill for properly managing them afterwards ; but 
that they can be kept healthy, increased in size, and utilised in future 
years many examples prove, among w'hich some may be seen at 
Chiswick. 
Other beds in the open air w r ere occupied with Casuarina ericoides, 
a most elegant plant in a small state, especially when grown in the 
manner indicated. The charming greenhouse plant, Choisia ternata, 
is prepared in the same way ; and better, because more healthy and 
bushy, examples can be produced in this manner than by growing 
them in pots. The plants named are grown in thousands. They are 
planted out in early summer and potted in the autumn ; but perhaps 
most of them are simply “ mossed ” and sent to nurserymen and 
florists in this and other countries, the greater number of the plants 
being sold as they stand in the beds. 
In cold pits in the grounds many hundreds of plants of Pandanus 
Yeitchii were planted, also Aralia Sieboldi and Cordylines. In one 
pit with roughly boarded sides and lights placed across were three 
thousand plants of Cocos Weddelliana, and similar pits were devoted 
to other popular Palms. 
Snug enclosures, some 12 feet wide and of varying lengths, were 
formed with Lime hedges 12 or more feet high, and in these Camellias. 
Cannas, Arums, and greenhouse plants generally were sheltered from 
high winds and bright sun, yet had the air and light necessary for 
maintaining them in health. 
Prominent in the nursery, which is as level as a river, is a large 
mound planted with forest trees, which have attained their full size. 
This is of considerable extent, and during the summer is made pictur¬ 
esque with Tree Ferns, Palms, Cycads, &c. A moat surrounds this 
miniature mountain on three sides, and one w'onders for a moment 
w'hy such a work should have been undertaken, but it was a w'ork of 
utility. The “ moat ” was formed to provide an abundant supply of 
water, and the material excavated formed the mound. Certainly a 
more practical mode of disposing of the material than the sapient 
method once ordered by a village vestry, at least so it is said, when 
the question of disposing of a quantity of soil was considered, and it 
was decided to dig a hole and bury it. 
The time sped pleasantly in this old nursery with its young and 
accomplished proprietor—a man of energy and enterprise, who is ex¬ 
tending his business yearly, and enjoys the esteem of his brother hor- 
ticulteurs. He is the author of the “ Iconography of Indian Azaleas,” 
of w'hich an English issue is published monthly, and will make a 
