JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
316 
[ April 19, 1883. 
robusta, and Kentias. In the corresponding class for nurserymen 
splendid specimens are also arranged by all tbe exhibitors, whose 
catalogues may well be consulted by those who are interested in 
these plants, and the same remark applies to the exhibits in the 
smaller classes, as it is not possible even to enumerate them here. 
Gold medals are awarded to MM. Ghellinck de Walle, D’Haene, Spae, 
and Moens, in the several classes. 
In the class of Palms for arranging in the open air in the summer, 
Chamserops humilis excluded, M. Van Houtte exhibits a new Cali¬ 
fornian Palm, Washingtonia robusta, having a general resemblance 
to Pritchardia filamentosa, but more robust and evidently a free- 
growing variety that promises to be of great decorative value. 
M. Moens secures the amateurs’ gold medal for ten new Palms, 
very striking and elegant being Ohamasrops humilis bipartita, which 
is particularly slender, light, and graceful. In the class for new non¬ 
flowering plants both the medals go to M. Massange de Louvrex 
forVriesia Brameri, a strong grower with green darkly veined leaves, 
and Massangea tigrina beautifully marbled. 
CYCADS. 
Like Palms these are extremely popular, and five gold medals were 
offered in six classes. Very striking groups and splendid examples 
are exhibited, among the finest being Zamia caffra, with grand 
leaves ; Z. Frederici Guillielmi, with a stem 18 inches in diameter and 
healthy head; Z. Katzeri, highly distinct ; Z. horrida glauca, 
Z. Altensteini, fine ; Z. Lehmanni glauca, very ornamental; Z. recur- 
vata, excellent; Z. Vroomi, large; and Cycas neo-caledonica, very 
elegant. A grand specimen of Lepizodamia Perofskiana commanded 
attention ; it is very like Macrozamia spiralis, if not identical with it. 
Gold medals are awarded to MM. Ghellinck de Walle, Vander 
Woner, De Smet, and Wartel. 
FERNS. 
Although unquestionably many valuable collections are arranged, 
and some imposing specimens, they do not on the whole excel those 
staged at the best English exhibitions, except as regards the Tree 
Ferns, several of which are extremely fine. MM. D’Haene, Yan Houtte, 
Van Geert, Ghellinck de Walle, and De Smet are among the chief 
prizetakers. Filmy Ferns are exhibited in cases, the plants conse¬ 
quently not large, but the number of varieties included show how an 
interesting collection of these most elegant plants can be accom¬ 
modated in a small space. For these a gold medal is granted to M. 
De Smet. 
The most attractive Fern in the Exhibition, and to which the silver- 
gilt medal for a new variety raised from seed has been awarded, is a 
variety of Gymnogramma schizophylla, 2^ feet in diameter, with 
beautifully arched fronds 2 feet in length, and equal in elegance to 
any Filmy Fern. It is exhibited by M. Maron, and is extremely 
beautiful—without doubt the best Fern in the Exhibition. 
ORNAMENTAL STOVE AND TEMPERATE HOUSE PLANTS. 
M. Yan Geert wins the great gold medal with a grand collection of 
ornamental-foliaged plants. Rapids fiabelliformis variegata, a grand 
example ; Dracaena Lindeni, superb ; Zamia Van Geerti, splendid ; 
beautiful Anthuriums. Sarracenia Drummondii, and Ferns are pro¬ 
minent in this admirable group. In the class for greenhouse plants 
in flower M. Yan Geert wins the Queen’s prize with an imposing group, 
amongst which huge golden-headed Acacias show to great advantage. 
It is somewhat surprising that these plants are not more extensively 
grown in England. A huge pyramid of A. armata shows how 
elegantly bright such plants are. A noble standard of Sparmannia 
africana, with a head C feet through, is the conspicuous centre of 
another group. 
DRACAENAS, CROTONS, AND BEGONIAS. 
The former are the more popular, having four classes and three 
gold medals, only one gold medal being provided for the latter. The 
response we are quite unable to consider satisfactory, and far finer 
plants are constantly staged at home. The most effective Dracaena 
is D. Lindeni, of which there are many fine examples, in every respect 
healthy and in grand colour. This plant does not always grow freely 
with us, but that would now appear to be entirely the fault of the 
cultivators. We observed no other Dracaenas calling for notice, ex¬ 
cept a small houseful of very healthy plants from M. Pynaert. 
Very healthy, well-grown, fresh, and highly coloured Crotons are 
arranged, a few of the most effective being musaicus, with glowing 
red leaves a foot long and 2 inches in diameter ; interruptus elegans, 
both bright and curious ; Montfontainensis, pseudo-trilobed, deep red 
leaves; and Albert Truffaut, ivory white, buff, and green, leaves 
1 foot by 3 inches. M. Pynaert stages an excellent group of orna¬ 
mental-foliaged Begonias, his collection of these plants being very 
great, and many of them very rich and handsome. Half a dozen good 
and distinct varieties are M. Ferrais, M. Justinian Brettonneau, 
Zenobia, M. T. Bonnel, and President Belle. The gold medal for 
Coleuses is awarded to M. Bruyere, Lille, who exhibits very striking 
varieties quite distinct from any in commerce in England. M. Auguste 
Van Geert is the premier exhibitor of Sarracenias. 
AZALEAS. 
These plants being grown so splendidly and extensively, we were 
not surprised to find twelve classes and nine gold medals for the 
A. indica type, and four classes and three gold medals for hardy 
Azaleas, io indicate half the plants that are of superior merit in the 
several classes were impossible. We have never seen anything ap¬ 
proaching such a display of these plants in England. The specimens 
are umbrella-shaped, on stems ranging from 2 to 8 feet high, and with 
heads of the same diameter—dense masses of flowers so closely packed 
that thousands have not room to expand, and yet they are of great size, 
the plants growing with a vigour that is quite wonderful. In the 
class in which the plants are remarkable for their vigour and flori- 
ferousness we must notice a beautiful white—Pucelle de Gand. Near 
it, and exceedingly rich, is a variety of sterling merit, named Hooil- 
zinckii, flowers purple suffused with crimson, highly effective. Roi 
des Beiges, double red, is glowing and massive, but grander still is 
Souvenir du Due de Brabant. One of the best of the double rose- 
coloured varieties is Juliette, Rosette having larger but less double 
flowers ; striking double crimsons, Duchesse Adelaide de Nassau, with 
purplish upper petals, and Triomphe de Hanneau. The best varie¬ 
gated-flowered sorts are Souvenir du Prince Albert, Sigismund Rucker, 
and Beauts Supreme. Of whites, Apollon, Leonie Van Houtte, and 
the variety above-named ; as a double white, Bernard Andreas alba 
is not surpassed. Of rose-coloured singles, Reine des Roses superba, 
very deep, and Oswald de Kerchove, crimpled petals, are amongst the 
most striking. As single scarlets, Flambeau is particularly dazzling, 
but Roi d’Hollande has finer flowers, while Marquis of Lome, 
orange scarlet, and Eclatante must not be passed without note. 
These are rich indeed. Dame Melanie, pale salmon, is much admired. 
Cedo Nulli is perhaps the deepest purple. Comte de Flandre is 
remarkable by its purple top and rosy crimson lower petals, a lovely 
double cerise being Grande Duchesse de Bade. Madame de Greyd is 
conspicuous by its deep salmon blotch on a blush ground, like a light 
show Pelargonium ; Madame Ghellinck de Walle, pale salmon, mar¬ 
gined white; Bijou de Paris, white, faintly flaked ; Jean Vervaene, 
white and salmon, sportive, one of first-rate excellence. Grafted 
Azaleas—that is, concentric rows of distinct colours, are very striking, 
notably the red and white varieties of Souvenir du Prince Albert, 
worked by M. Vervaene. 
New Azaleas. —The first prize was awarded to M. Van Houtte for 
six plants. They comprised Baron N. de Rothschild, double, plum 
colour, grand; Prince Rudolphe, semi-double, scarlet, brilliant; 
Marshal Wilder, blotched white ; Comte de Germany, single, crimson- 
scarlet, splendid ; Comte de Paris, salmon-peach, fine ; and Madame 
Planchon, white, rose-flaked. For the best new seedling Azalea 
M. Van Houtte was again successful with a charming semi-double 
variety, named in honour of an accomplished English florist, John 
D. T. Llewelyn ; its colour is flesh, suffused with salmon, and deeply 
blotched. Vervaene’s Perfection de Gand, rosy crimson; M. Lu- 
bruse, deep rose; Mdlle. Louise Vervaene, double white; and La 
Tendresse, single white, will be heard of again. The best new hardy 
plant raised from seed in Europe is Azalea mollis Bienvenue, a rosy 
salmon of great excellence, exhibited by M. Vuylsteke. In the 
class for four Azaleas not in commerce M. Van Houtte is again to 
the fore, Mrs. B. S. Williams, a double white, being the best of the 
quartette, and the most charming white flower yet raised. He was 
second also. Princess Beatrice, white, smooth and beautiful; and 
Princess Alice, a free charming rose, being admirable. Gold medals 
were won by Comte Kerchove de Denterghem, and MM. Ghellinck de 
Walle, Rosseel, Beaucarne, Vuylsteke, D’Haene, and Vervaene. 
Eardy Azaleas.—A. large bed 20 feet by 10 feet of A. mollis is 
the chief floral feature of a very large building, the plants, including 
some fine standards, being huge bouquets of flowers without the relief 
of a particle of foliage. There is a great similarity in many of the 
varieties, but the following are a few of the most distinct and good : 
Chevalier A. de Reali, Charles Kekule, Baron de Constant Rebeque, 
Alphonse Lavallee, Comte de Gomer, Baron Edmond de Rothschild, 
Comte de Quincey, Albicans, Comte de Kerchove, and Flava amcena. 
A corresponding bed was filled with Ghent Azaleas, the smaller 
flowers of which have foliage associated with them. The most dis¬ 
tinct and effective varieties exhibited are Gloria Mundi, Daviesii, 
Ardentissima, Queen Victoria, Marie Dorothee, Jenny Lind, Souvenir 
de Royghem, and Graf von Meran. 
CAMELLIAS. 
These are far less numerous than Azaleas, yet the plants are much 
superior to those seen, when they are seen, at English shows. They 
vary in height from 18 inches to 6 feet, and are wonderfully flowered, 
the foliage being as bright and healthy as the blooms are fine. Evi¬ 
dence of tying the plants into form is rather too apparent, but they 
are in fine condition for all that, Belgian leaf soil (of which more 
anon), abundance of water, and judicious shade having contributed 
to the very satisfactory results. In the class for six new varieties 
the medal was awarded to Mr. De Schryner, but the varieties are not 
superior to others in cultivation. 
CAPE AND NEW HOLLAND PLANTS. 
M. Van Houtte won the gold medal with a bright group of healthy 
well-flowered examples, of which the following are the more note¬ 
worthy and deserving extended culture :—Cytisus elegans, elegant 
indeed, and laden with long golden sprays; Metrosideros semperflorens, 
crimson, and angustifolia flore-pleno, white with yellow anthers, 
highly effective ; Choysia ternata,a fine standard, charmingly telling ; 
Acacia cordata, buff, one of the most chaste and neat of the genus, a 
