April 19,1318.] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE OARDENER. 
325 
nette are about the same as these plants are seen in England. Roses 
not quite so good as at home, Azalea mollis ten times better ; and we 
must not pass pyramids of Acacia aimata from M. De Coster, 4 feet 
wide at the base and 7 feet high, close masses of soft yellow flowers, 
and, as specimens of culture, faultless. 
Cinerarias are good and well grown, but not as regards varieties 
superior to the best English strains, at least regarded from the English 
standard of merit. By far the finest double Cinerarias are from Swanley. 
and Mr. Cannell also stages his fine pyramids of cut flowers of Zonal 
Pelargoniums, together with the Pride of Penshurst Carnation freely 
arranged in vases, and effective they arc rising above the massive ])urple 
and crimson Cinerarias. Kalmias and Andromedas are well represented, 
some specimens of A. japonica very fine indeed. 
Imantophyllums contribute powerfully to the brightness of the 
Exhibition, and they shine the more conspicuously in contrast with the 
Palms that at once form a background and a canopy to the several 
collections. No such display of the plants in question has ever been 
seen in England as is now under notice in the Great Hall of Harmony 
at Ghent. It is not suggested that distinctly marked improvements are 
conspicuous since the last exhibition five 3 ’ears ago, but those on view 
are good enough to satisfy the critical, and especially since the culti¬ 
vation is so good, the foliage being as broad, stout, and deep green in 
colour as the trusses are large, and the flowers well formed and brilliant 
in colour. Among the more striking are Baronne de Rothschild, Madame 
Freeman, Mr. Harry Veitch, Madame Donner, Lindeni, a grand specimen 
from M. Charles de Vuylsteke ; F. Vervaene, and Madame Auguste 
Hemoine. 
Bromeliaceous jilants arc much more numerous and fine than are seen 
at the best home exhibitions, and when well grown, are not only handsome, 
but constantly so, for when the flowers fade the leaves remain, and these, 
with the character of the plants, are highly ornamental. One or two new 
varieties command much attention, notably Vriesia hicroglyphica varie- 
gata, which was awarded the first prize as a novelty in the section. In 
addition to the rich marbling of the leaves, each is banded on one side with 
white, and the contrast with the darker portions is most effective. It is 
doubtful whether the variety will be reproducible by seed, and if not its 
increase must of necessity be slow ; be that as it may, the plant in ques¬ 
tion is one of the most striking novelties in the Exhibition. The plant to 
which the second prize is adjudged is remarkable by its massiveness 
and the red hue prevailing in its exceptionally broad leaves, which are 
9 inches in diameter and about 2 feet long. It is exhibited by Madame 
D. Block of Brussels as an introduction from Brazil. M. de la Devansaye 
stages an interesting plant, the result of a cross between V. Zahni and 
V. splendens, and named V. magnifica—a statelj'' plant of considerable 
promise. IVIessrs. Jacob Makoy & Co. and Count P. Heptinne are 
very successful in this section. 
Anthuriums.—These, chiefly A. Schertzerianum, are exhibited in 
Large numbers, and as arranged in bold groups contribute greatly to the 
richness of the Exhibition. M. de la Devansa 3 'e offered a gold medal for 
seedling, but this gentleman stages the most distinct that came under 
our notice, the spathes varying in size and shape and distinctly marbled. 
The gold medal for the finest collection is won by M. De Smet- 
Duvivier. Gloxinias are extremely fine for the time of year, and the 
medal for them is well won by M. L. Delarue-Cardon. Tuberous 
Begonias from M. Jean De Kneef were also exceptionally meritorious. 
Amaryllises contribute materially to the effect of the Show, several 
collections being staged, but the great superiority of the Veitchian group 
of about a hundred plants could not be disputed. The flowers by their 
size, substance, and excellence of form created almost a sensation, and 
several of the plants will not find their way back to the home of their 
birth again. It is not too much to say that the Chelsea-rai.sed seedlings 
■exhibited by Messrs. Veitch are a generation, not of plants, but of men, 
in advance of the Belgian collections, and in these plants more 
distinctly, perhaps, than any others in the Show England leads the way. 
And, speaking of English plants, it may be stated that as Messrs. Veitch 
take the lead with Amaryllises, so does Mr. B. S. Williams with Cyclamens, 
for though there are other meritorious collections in the Show, the 
Holloway plants are clearly in the ascendant. 
M. Alexis Dalliere wins the chief medal for striped and marbled 
foliaged plants, Vriesia Leopold!, and V. tessellata, splendid, with Aphe- 
landra Louisa, the narrow Privet-shaped leaves clearly veined with ivory 
white on a very dark ground. All the plants in the group represented 
superior cultivation. M. Louis van Houtte is a close second in this 
fine class. Dracsenas are remarkable for high culture rather than 
great size, and never before were seen the green and golden D. Ijindeni 
in such numbers and condition. M.M. Vancoppenolle and D’Haene 
well deserve their medals for these collections. 
Orchids.—In no section has such a great advance been made in the 
five years that have elapsed since the last Show as in these. Then they 
were the weak point, now they are a strong feature. Not that the 
plants are large, as we have individual specimens much finer at home, 
but the Belgian exhibits are undeniably most attractive, the plants, as a 
rule, being in excellent health .and profusely flowered. M. L. De Smet- 
Duvivier exhibited a truly charming assortment, with which it would be 
difficult to find fault, while the choicest varieties are included. Apart 
from these, an annex of the building is entirely filled with Orchiils, 
these being artistically arranged on curving side stages, backed with 
mirrors disposed at acute angles, but it is doubtful if these contribute 
materially to the general effect. The stages are edged with neat wicker¬ 
work 0 inches high, which gives a neat finish to the rich banks of flowers. 
A central stage is also occupied with plants, and there are overflow collec¬ 
tions (notably a very rich one. from M. Hye-Leysen, in which Cypripedium 
grande (Veitch) has “ tails” 104 inches long) in an adjoining corridor, also 
in a glass structure in the grounds. To enumerate the varieties would 
fill a page, and as they are generally the same as are grown in England, 
and some of the plants are recognisable as having been seen there, it is 
the less necessary to particularise, and if a commencement is made of 
taking down names it might not be easy to know when and where to 
finish. A truss, however, of Cattleya Trianaj variety from M. Sidney 
Courtauld is so distinct from all others that it cannot be passed in 
silence. The feature of the flower is that the deep colour of the lip is 
reproduced as a broad clear stripe up the centre of the petals and sepals, 
this being as distinct in its way as the band in some of the Amaryllises. 
This similarity led a jocular spectator to astonish an inexperienced 
friend by informing him it was the first cross yet obtained between 
the two genera, and he appeared to be delighted with the informa¬ 
tion. 
Cypripediums are especially well grown, though the plants are not 
large, being mostly in 5 and 6-inch pots. M. Hye-Leysen stages a beauti¬ 
ful collection, which is awarded the premier prize, C. Argus Moensi being 
the most conspicuous flower in the group ; but more conspicuous still is 
what some consider a sport staged by the same exhibitor from C. 
Lawrencianum, the marbled foliage of which it retains, but the flower is 
totally dissimilar, the lip being soft greenish yellow, the colour run¬ 
ning up in stripes three parts through the dorsal sepal on an ivory 
white ground. It is most chaste, and bears the varietal name of 
Hyeanum. 
M. Peeters, Bri'sscls, wins the Queen’s medal with a large and ad¬ 
mirably grown collection of Orchids, which includes many superior 
forms, as Lmlia purpurata alba, one of the best ever seen, Ccelogync 
cristata alba, Odontoglossum Ruckerianum superbum, very fine ; Cyjiri- 
pedium Sallieri and C. Sedeni candidulum very good. Dendrobium . 
Ainsworth! is in excellent condition, as arc all the plants, and the group 
is very beautiful. 
Hyacinths are raised tier above tier to form steep banks of trusses, 
the pots embedded in and covered with moss. The growth is not so 
vigorous as the best English grown Hyacinths, though there are some 
massive trusses, the appearance of which might be improved by a little 
dressing for liberating some of the bells and disposing them evenly for 
rendering the trusses more symmetrical. Tulips are small, and would 
not take a third prize at a good show at home. 
Forsythia suspensa, trained on an umbrella frame, several plants 
planted together and the stems encased in clay, this being sown with 
Cress seed to form a green stem, is one of the curiosities of the Show. 
A dwarf white Rhododendron, Rosalie Siedel, ought not to be over¬ 
looked : it is very attractive and fioriferous, being destitute of any 
central blotch of colour, only the top petal containing a few dark spots. 
Mr. Brown, Richmond, scores a great triumph with his bouquets and 
table decorations, winning the two gold medals offered in the classes, 
with rich yet very light and tasteful examples of floral arrangement. 
When it is added that Mr. Veitch is gianted a large gold medal, also 
the object of art offered by Madame Verschaffelt in memory of her hus¬ 
band, for the splendid group of Amaryllis ; that Mr. B. S. Williams 
secures the gold medal of 200 francs for Cyclamens ; and that Mr. 
Cannell is awarded a silver medal for his exhibit above referred to, it 
will be conceded that the English contingent did well, as the gentlemen 
named were the only exhibitors from Britain. It is interesting to record 
that Jlr. Veitch was surprised by being handed a gold medal that was 
cranted in 1861-5, or twenty-five years ago, for new plants exhibited by 
his father ; it was struck at the time but overlooked. 
A most interesting feature in connection with the Exhibition is a 
fac-simile illustration of the first show held by the Society in a public 
house in 1809 (at least that is the date of the old Dutch newspapers that 
are laid on the tables), for the public hou.se and its furniture are repre¬ 
sented as well as the plants. At one end is the bar, with mugs, pewter pots, 
and glasses, and by their side is the tub for washing them. In the centre 
is a table with the brazier that was used for lighting the pipe.s of 
the old Dutch gardeners, these being also on the beam, near the ancient 
barometer, with the names of the smokers on some of them. There are 
two other small tables and cane chairs, with a candlestick fastened down 
to each of the tables for safety perhaps at critical moments, and oh the 
other side of the room is the table of plants—the exhibition. There are 
between lifty and sixty of them, besides a small collection of Hyacinths 
and Tulips. The reproduction of this old show was a happy idea, and is 
admirably carried out, even to the sanding of the rough deal floor. Theold 
man’s name is over the door—15. (J. Lanckman, Hovenier ; (market 
gardener)—and each of his customers took a plant, these making the 
show. When the past and present are thus brought together the diffe¬ 
rence is astounding—the first show resembling a cottager’s exhibition, 
the last being the greatest held in Europe during the present year. 
The hospitality dispensed by the .administration to the Jurors is 
remarkable. The luncheon on Saturday amounted to a b.anquet, 
attended by 200 to SOO persons, then followed a splendid reception at 
the Hotel de Ville, then as a grand finale a sumptuous banquet in the 
saloon of the Grand Theatre, followed by a special oiieratic performance 
in honour of the occasion. The Comte de Kerchove de Denterghem 
presided at the banquet, which was a splendid one. and his sprightly 
eloquence was received with euthusiastic apjilause. The city is en fete, 
and in every respect the gathering is a brilliant success. 
The weather, which Ind been bitterly cold fora longtime in Belgium, 
similar indeed to th.at which has ])rev.ailed in EnHand, changed on 
Friday Last, which was mild and bright, while Sunday was summer-like and 
