mj 10, 1888, J 
- JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
381 
made my first call on an esteemed and long proved friend, Mr. Charles 
Van Geert, one qf the most substantial and respected of Belgian nur¬ 
serymen and genuine of men. Both with himself and his son, who 
actively conducts the business, I spent a few pleasant hours, and with 
the latter had a run into the country, forty minutes by train, to the 
most interesting nursery of its kind I know, and of which it would be 
difficult to find its equal as regards arrangement and the richness of its 
contents in the form of deciduous trees, flowering shrubs, and Conifers. 
It is a veritable arboretum, so tastefully disposed as to form a delightful 
pleasure ground to the handsome chateau which has been rebuilt as a 
suminer residence for the family and friends. It is the nursery on the 
Continent to which planters of hardy ornamental trees turn, and is of 
European fame. A consignment of Conifers was being packed for 
Germany, every specimen fit for an exhibition, and large as some of 
them were there could be no thought of one of them failing to grow 
when planted with ordinary care. Conifers are replanted at Calmpthout 
at almost all seasons of the year, and the special care that is bestowed 
on them ensures their safe removal. The soil is of a sandy nature, and 
every excavation that is made for a plant or tree, large or small, is lined 
with chemically prepared leaf mould, into which the roots entwine and 
divide, clinging to it in the form of a wig-like mass of fibres. It is an 
excellent idea v ell and systematically carried out. The nursery has 
extended greatly during the past few years, and additional land is pur¬ 
chased for improvement. This will be scientifically and experimentally 
conducted both as regards manures and crops for a 
^-V. few years, that may be of benefit to Belgian agricul- 
turists who are 7iot “ advanced.” It will be a school of 
1 instruction under the inspection of an official from 
I- Jiiii'i j-pg agricultural department of the State, and crops 
I and methods of culture will be tried that are at present 
not common in the kingdom. Eventually the land will 
probably be planted with nursery stock when a further 
extension is needed and the soil is brought into the 
best condition for its reception. 
The district it appears forms a happy hunting 
ground of the cockchafer or May bug (Melolontha), 
also of the leather jacket grub, the larva of the 
Tipula. These are most destructive and difficult to 
extirpate. For keeping them in subjection their natural 
enemies. Starlings, are wisely encouraged and protected. 
A hundred nest boxes (fig. 48) had just been erected in 
different parts of the nursery. These are like miniature 
dog kennels, a foot or so long, with a round hole in the 
end of each near the top, fixed about 15 feet above the 
I ground on poles inserted in it. They are promptly 
taken possession of by the birds, which increase in 
I numbers and do their natural work better tha:i it 
could be done in any other way, and are of immense 
benefit to the district. One larger box was made 
some years ago in two storeys, with holes giving access 
■j to the upper and lower rooms, but the birds would 
: never enter the lower, so each pair have now a small 
one-storey tenement to themselves, and the plan 
Fig. 48 . answers well. These boxes are an interesting feature 
of the grounds and decidedly useful. 
There is little k-ft of the Antwerp nursery, the home of the family ; 
only what was the old garden of the original proprietor is retained, with 
a few glass structures containing a good stock of Palms and Camellias. 
The present owner bought a good deal of surrounding land some years 
ago, when it was cheap, being beyond the fortifications, and in those 
days the kingdom was less settled than now. Looking ahead, Mr. Van 
Geert also bought land in the country, and eventually the time came 
when the expected happened, and the home nursery was brought within 
the new and formidable lines of defence. The growing commercial 
prosperity of the city increased the value of this land enormously, and 
slice after slice was sold for building purposes. Fine streets now occupy 
the site and show association with it, and record family sympathy by 
their names—Van Geert Street, Horticulture Street, Linnmus Street, 
Hodoens Street, and at present a new street is being built by Mr. Van 
Geert’s sons and daughters. So does the old order of things pass away and 
is succeeded by the new. But the name of the man who has done so 
much and so well is built firmly in the foundations of the city, and will 
survive the storms of centuries. 
In the large and substantial house of Mr. Charles Van Geert, jun., 
built by his father a few years ago, is an interesting memorial window- 
representing the portraits of the earlier Van Geerts, one, the father, I 
think, of the present representative head of the family, the other of his 
relative, Mr. Jean Van Geert, who was a pioneer in the horticultural 
industry of Ghent, and whose portrait appears in the May number of the 
Jlevue de VHorticulture Belqe, that contains a complete history of its 
horticultural society and famous exhibitions, admirably written by Mr. 
C. de Bosschere and appropriately published, with an account of the last 
great Show on the day it was opened—a smart piece of work on the 
part of Mr. E. Pynaert Van Geert and his able coadjutors. A feature 
of one of the rooms of the house referred to has perhaps been mentioned 
before, but forgotten. Over a handsome fireplace, instead of the familiar 
pier glass in which you look at yourself, is a large plate glass, through 
which you have a full sweep of the street as you sit round the fire. It 
was a conception of the owner ; but there is another arrangement similar, 
and anterior to it. Some years ago, when Dr. Hogg was building in 
Sussex, the idea occurred to him to have a view of the beautiful country 
from the room over the fireplace, and it was carried out, the smoke from 
the fire being conducted through side flues. The arrangement is novel 
and agreeable. These coincidences of invention are worth recording 
whether there are more of the same kind or not. 
I think I saw enough in one day in and outside Antwerp before going 
on to Ghent, and have said enough at one sitting and for one reading ; 
but on returning I called on a great amateur cultivator residing in the 
famous old city, and shall perhaps be able to say a little more about 
Belgian work and ways another day.—A JuEOE. 
Events op the Week. —Exhibitors will have a rather busy week, 
especially those who like to arrange for a succession of shows in a few 
days. On Saturday, the 12th inst., the summer Show will be held at the 
Crystal Palace, Sydenham ; on the following Wednesday (16th Inst.) 
theffirst of the Eoyal Botanic Society’s summer Shows for the present 
year will be the great event; and on the next two days, Thursday and 
Friday, the Boyal Horticultural Society’s Exhibition in the Temple 
Gardens will attract attention. The Whitsuntide Show at Manchester 
will also be opened on Friday, the 18th inst. 
- At a general meeting of the Eoyal Hoeticultueal Society, 
held on Tuesday in the Drill Hall of the London Scottish E.V., Harry 
Turner, Esq., in the chair, seventy-five candidates were duly elected 
Fellows of the Society. 
- The Weathee. —“ In Scotland,” says “ B. D.” “ the first week 
of May has been showery, boisterous, and rather inclement. On 
Wednesday, the 2nd, heavy showers of sleet and hail, accompanied by 
thunder, occurred in some districts. There has been no frost, and vege¬ 
tation progresses but slowly.” The weather in the south has been bright 
and mild with several extremely fine days and occasional showers* 
Vegetation is advancing rapidly. 
- We have the pleasure to state that Mb. James Douglas, The 
Gardens, Great Gearies, Ilford, succeeds the late Mr. J. Woodbridge on 
the Council of the Eoyal Horticultural Society. It would not be easy, 
we presume, to find a better representative of British gardeners. Mr. 
Douglas has been a Fellow of the Society for many years, and has served 
on the Fruit and Floral Committees, and therefore in that respect his 
claims, though not advanced by himself, could not be overlooked for the 
distinction conferred. 
—- Me. Hy3E Claeke has the following paragraph in “Hotes 
and Queries” respecting the oeigin of the Eoyal Botanic Society 
—“ The founder of the Eoyal Botanic Society was Mr. Philip Barnes, 
F.L.S., of Norwich. Having learned from an official of the Woods and 
Forests that the lease of Jenkins’ nursery grounds in the Inner Circle 
was about to fall in, he planned the Society, and by great labour 
accomplished the undertaking. I was one of his earliest supporters, 
and am now the father of the Society, as my neighbour, Mr. G. G. 
Hardingham, retired from the Committe ■. This year is the jubilee 
year, and it is to be hoped a bust of Philip Barnes will be placed in 
the museum of the gardens. The first Secretaries were Mr. J. de Carle 
Sowerby, the naturalist, cousin of the founder, and Mr. P. Edward 
Barnes, B.A., his son.” 
- We have had the pleasure of inspecting Mr. McIntosh’s bulb 
beds at Duneevan early in the week. The Hyacinths were passing 
their best, but the display was thi finest we have seen either there or 
elsewhere. Between 4000 and 6000 spikes, not a few of them of exhi¬ 
bition standard, two-thirds of the varieties single, grouped about 6 inches 
apart, and each supported with an almost invisible galvanised stake, 
and the colours effectively mixed, produced an effect of the most pleas¬ 
ing and satisfying description. Early in the season the margins of the 
beds were bright with Crocuses, the arching foliage of which forms a 
gi-aceful foil to the Hyacinths. The Tulip beds were very brilliant. 
The varieties which are found to be the best for massing are Chrysolora, 
pure bright yellow ; Belle Alliance, rich crimson scarlet, surpassing in 
vigour and effect Vermillion Brilliant; Eosamunde, rose and white, 
