JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
150 
[ August 18, 1881. 
merits ; still Ibis brief record may induce some who are situated 
like myself to find a place for it.—U rban.” 
ANTWERP INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION. 
Belgium, while being admittedly a kingdom of industry, is also a 
land of fetes. Long days of labour—much longer than in England— 
appear to necessitate compensatory periods of rest, or rather of 
change; and the people, if they know how to work with assiduity, 
certainly know how to enjoy themselves. About the 15th of August 
the annual communal fetes are held at Antwerp, these being of a 
character which have no analogy in England, and it is but fitting in 
a nation of horticulturists that an Exhibition such as the one under 
notice should be a prominent feature of the holidays that are held at 
given inteivals in the great centres of population. During the last 
and the piesent year the demonstrations have been on a larger and 
moie elaborate scale than usual, as commemorative of a distinct 
epoch in the history of the nation, last year having been the jubilee 
of its independence, the celebration of which has extended at in- 
teivals to the present time, more particularly as regards the ancient 
city that has made such rapid strides in artistic and commercial 
progress duiing the past half century. In something like the time 
named the population has _ increased from 65.000 to 200,000 within 
the fortifications, and the increase of wealth has at least been pro¬ 
portionate. A large portion of this wealth has been devoted to 
public improvements, and in developing the resources of a town than 
which few others on the Continent enjoy such a favourable position, 
hot long ago it was cramped and quaint, but now scope is afforded 
i 1 ^ va .„ ety °.^ ^fractions. Quaint, indeed, it remains, and it is 
hoped will continue, as this forms one of its most striking features. 
Its ancient character is as marked as ever, perhaps even by the con¬ 
trast afforded by modern additions more marked; and every year 
Antwerp is being rendered more agreeable, not only to its resident 
population, but as a great emporium of trade and pleasure, in which 
other nationalities participate. Its boulevards are becoming matured, 
and its beautiful park, squares, and gardens under the skilful 
superintendence of M. Henri de Bosschere are increasing in attrac¬ 
tiveness yearly. Its Zoological Garden alike in design and condition 
is one of the finest in Europe ; and education, music, and the fine arts 
are cherished, promoted, and flourish as of yore. Horticulture re- 
ceives its share of encouragement, and the latest results were seen in 
h n e Show that was arranged last Saturday and closed on Tuesday. 
The Exhibition was organised by the Royal Horticultural and 
Agricultural Society of Belgium, which is composed of some five 
hundred subscribing members, and substantial state and municipal 
aid was lenderedby a contribution of some 12,000 francs to the prize 
fund, ho such advantages are conceded to horticulture in England. 
In arrangement and ceremonial, too, the Show, as all great Belgian 
exhibitions are, was essentially different from our English exhibitions. 
The custom of devoting the day prior to the Show for judging, and 
the night for arranging the plants artistically, was adopted. This 
precludes the necessity of hurry and bustle, and the work is per¬ 
formed deliberately and pleasurably. 
On Saturday morning the Jury, which included representatives 
from England, France, and Spain, in addition to Belgian horticul¬ 
turists, assembled in the hall of the Society of Harmony. After an 
address of welcome of the Vice-President of the Society, Baron Osy 
de Wychen, the roll was called, and about fifty answered to their 
names—Messrs. Manning,_ Chelsea ; Prince, Oxford; and Wright 
forming the English contingent. Divided into nine sections, with a 
President and Secretary to each, the work of adjudicating the prizes 
proceeded, and this completed, nearly a hundred members of the 
Society and officials of the Show occupied the remainder of the day 
at a bountiful luncheon, Baron Osy presiding. The plants during 
this time were placed in groups throughout the building, yet in 
positions where each group could be turned to the best account with 
a minimum of labour. This task devolved on M. Fuchs, the eminent 
landscape gardener from Brussels. Under his directions the plants 
were disposed in the most tasteful and effective manner, and a beau¬ 
tiful garden—or rather three or four gardens—were arranged. With 
the exception of new and very small plants, Orchids, and cut flowers, 
the collections were arranged on the ground, the smaller flow r ering 
plants forming borders to the larger masses of foliage plants and 
beds. The result of the arrangement was so satisfactory that a gold 
medal was awarded to M. Fuchs for the talent he had displayed in 
the work. 
The schedule contained 142 classes, and a hundred medals were 
offered as prizes. Among the chief of these were the Queen’s gold 
medal for Orchids, won by M. Louis Van Houtte ; the 500 franc gold 
medal of the Federation of the Belgian Horticultural Societies, won 
by Madame Le Grelle-Dhanis ; the gold medal of the President of 
the Society, Baron de Caters, for the stranger who contributed most 
to the embellishment of the Exhibition, won by MM. Jacob Makoy 
and Co., Liege ; and the Vice-President’s medal for the most success¬ 
ful amateur Belgian exhibitor, won by Madame Le Grelle-Dhanis ; 
and the King’s gold medal for a hundred stove arid greenhouse plants, 
distinct, won by M. Louis Truyman. 
The Show was held in the great hall of the Society of Harmony, 
and three other large rooms in connection. In the entrance corridor 
w r ere garden requisites of various kinds, and admirably executed 
plans of parks and gardens lined the walls. The first room contained 
works of art, for which medals were awarded, these chiefly consisting 
of large and beautiful framed oil paintings of flowers, of which 
there was a great number. On the side tables were the fruit and 
vegetable collections, which were very much inferior to English 
exhibits of the same nature. Ascending the staircase the next, a 
very fine room, was devoted chiefly to new and rare plants. On the 
side tables groups of excellent Crotons, &c.; on the floor a mag¬ 
nificent collection of Marantas from Madame Le Grelle-Dhanis 
occupying the post of honour at the end. The broad corridor, 
which may be described as the third room leading to the Grand 
Hall, was similarly occupied—new plants on tables, and valuable 
groups of plants disposed on the floor. Thus far the Show was 
very beautiful, but the effect culminated in the Great Hall, the 
auditorium of which is reached by a wide and deep staircase. The 
bright flower beds in the centre of this hall, and the noble groups 
and beautiful borders of plants of almost every kind pleasingly 
associated, had a most imposing and picturesque effect as seen from 
the standpoint some 20 feet above them. This hall contained the 
principal general collections—Palms and other fine-foliaged plants, 
Ferns, Liliums, Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, Petunias, Asters, Dianthuses, 
Verbenas, Phloxes, and miscellaneous groups. In the side galleries 
were cut Roses and Gladioluses, also collections of Gloxinias, Be¬ 
gonias, Sarracenias, Bromeliads, Cannas, Aspidistras, and too many 
Coleuses. The whole of the space was occupied, yet there was room 
for visitors to enjoy the Exhibition, especially as these, owing to wet 
weather that unfortunately prevailed, were not so numerous as was 
desirable. 
Only some of the leading exhibits will be referred to, as a detailed 
notice of the exhibits in many of the classes, and an enumeration of 
the winners of the prizes, would not be of interest to the majority of 
readers. In Class 1, six plants of recent introduction in or out of 
flower, M. Van Houtte was awarded the first prize, the remaining 
honours going to MM. Jacob Makoy & Co. The first-prize collection 
included Dracaena Lindeni, a variegated form cf D. fragrans, with the 
drooping leaves of the species, but the prevailing colour being greenish 
orange, with a clearly defined ribbon of green down the centre of each 
leaf. As exhibited the plant was highly attractive, but it appears to 
lack vigour, and it is a question whether the colour will prove con¬ 
stant and the plant retain its health and freshness under ordinary 
cultivation. Alocasia Thibautiana, very healthy and fine foliage; 
Aralia Chabrieri, a plant of great elegance, and in all probability will 
prove of substantial merit as a room and general decorative plant; 
the leaves are narrow, very rich green, and the plant is very attrac¬ 
tive ; it is almost certain to become highly popular. The same group 
contained Dieffenbachia splendens; D. Leopoldi, fine; Schizmato- 
glossis crispata, small; Heliconia aurea vittata ; Amorphophallus 
Lacoure, as if splashed with whiting; Phrynium Lubbersi, Paullinia 
Hooibrenki, and a small plant of Aralia Massangeana. The notable 
plant in M. Makoy’s group was Dracaena Massangeana, exactly the 
reverse in marking of D. Lindeni, the central stripe being yellowish 
and occasionally divided, the remaining portion of the leaves green. 
The plant is decidedly more vigorous than D. Lindeni, if less bright, 
and will be useful both as an exhibition and decorative plant. 
Eugenia Glazioviana, an evergreen of compact yet elegant. habit, 
and with very small leaves, showed with great distinctness in this 
group. M. Linden, Ghent, exhibited a group of new plants not for 
competition, and was awarded a medal of 100 francs. Amongst, them 
we noticed Kentia Luciana, with large handsome leaves ; Heliconia 
triumphans, a fine Maranta-like plant, with large darkly-veined 
leaves ; Ronnbergia Morreniana, Piper eburnea, Pothos aurea, .Ficus 
decora, very large leaves, Lycopodium squarrosum, and Aspidium 
Rodigassiana, an elegant hardy Fern of bold growth. The chief 
medal for twelve new and rare Palms was won by Messrs. E. Yervaet 
and Co. with fresh healthy plants as follows :—Kentia Luciana, 
K. Lindeni, K. gracilis, K. robusta, Calamus viminalis, elegant, with 
spiny stems; C. lanatus, Pritchardia macrocarpa, P. aurea with 
yellow stems, Acanthopanax Herbstii, Thrinax tunicum very dwarf, 
and Ravenia Hildebrandti. M. Yan den Wouwer received the silver- 
gilt medal for a very excellent group. Both the prizes offered 
for a plant of recent introduction, remarkable for its inflorescence, 
were awarded to M. Jacob Makoy A Co. The first for Tillandsia 
Leiboldiana with three dense spikes of blue flowers, leaves small, and 
habit of plant dwarf ; and the second for Yriesia incurvata, of no 
particular merit. The same exhibitors took the three medals in the 
corresponding class for a fine-foliage plant—first with Dracaena 
Massangeana, above described; second with Crinum Yerschaffelti, 
with large striped foliage; and third with Anoectochilus Memerti, 
with large leaves richly coloured. In the class for a new hardy 
plant, remarkable for the beauty of its foliage, the first-prize medal 
was granted to M. Charles Yan Geert, Antwerp, for Abies commu- 
tata argentea. It has shorter leaves than A. Englemanni, and the dis¬ 
tinct silvery blue tint that pervades the plant renders it extremely 
attractive. This new Conifer is also fortunately of proved hardiness, 
for while A. Englemanni and many others were killed by the frost that 
was so incense in Belgium last winter, every plant of A. commutata 
argentea passed the ordeal without injury, and it must be regarded 
as a valuable acquisition. The medals for new flowering plants 
raised from seed went to M. Yan den Wouwer for Anthurium Schert- 
zerianum Yan den Wouweri, with a twin spathe ; and to M. Yan 
Houtte for A. Rothschildianum. In the class for a new foliage plant 
from seed the first prize medal was won by M. de Smet-Duvivier with 
Dracaena medio-picta, a variegated form of D. indivisa or an allied 
