1S79.] 
NEW GLOXINIAS.-THE GHENT STRAWBEREA’’ EXHIBITION. 
lil 
NEW GL 
[Plate 
F the Gloxinia as a decorative plant no 
word of praise is needed, as its merits 
are well known, and have been widely 
appreciated ever since the days when the old 
typical drooping-flowered G. speciosa and its red 
variety rithra were the only forms in general 
cultivation. Later on, the variations increased 
more rapidly, the most striking deviation from 
the typical form being the origination of G. 
Fi/fflana as a seedling sport, this being the 
type of the now numerous erect regular-flowered 
varieties. Very great variation in colouring and 
marking has been secured in the later genera¬ 
tions of seedlings. 
The sorts figured in our plate belong to the 
erect-flowered type. Fig. 1, Due de Gazes, is 
a very beautiful variety of a novel style of 
marking, the whole of the light ground¬ 
colour being dotted with small purple sjiots, 
which become condensed into heavy blotches on 
the expanded limb-segments. Fig. 2, Coiitesse 
DE Flandre, is a more delicate flower of the 
THE GHENT STEAAY 
S HE exhibition of Strawberries organised 
at the Casino of Ghent by the Cercle 
d’Arboriculture of Belgium, took place 
on June 29th. The exhibits were numerous, and. 
were considered so much the more deserving, 
from having been produced under conditions 
which had not suffered them to attain perfec¬ 
tion. The show was held in the hall of the Eoyal 
Agricultural and Botanical Society of Ghent, 
which was gracefully ornamented and full of 
fragrant perfumes. The fruits were arranged 
on an immense central table, while groups of 
flowering and foliage plants and of cut flowers 
served as decorations to the Casino. M. Victor 
Biebuyck, of Courtrai, showed a collection of 
Chinese Paeony flowers, worthy rivals of the 
Eose, obtained by him from seed, and some of 
which were remarkable for their perfect form 
and distinct colours. M. Fr. Birrvenich, 
desirous of uniting the useful with the agree¬ 
able, showed by his Strawberries in pots the 
mode of preparation which these plants ought 
to undergo, if one wishes to ensure success in 
their culture. M. Ed. Pynaert-Van Geert’s new 
Coleuses, amongst other subjects, were especi¬ 
ally attractive. The j ury, of whom M. Biebuyck 
OXINIAS., 
498.] 
same spotted typo, but without the heav}' 
blotches of colour on the limb, the dotting being 
of a pleasing ro33r-pink, and pretty evenl}’- dis¬ 
tributed. These two varieties w^ere drawn by 
Miss M. Eegel, from the collection of Mr. W. 
Bull. Fig. 3, Coupe dTIebe, belongs to another 
type, in which the limb is densely coloured, 
with a narrow even edging of white; the ground¬ 
colour is a very rich bright carmine-scarlet, 
contrasting well with the white edge, which 
is pure and clearly defined. Fig. 4,Nyctiieiieze, 
is of this type, but with a ground-colour of rich 
bluish-purple, the white margin being also well- 
defined. These latter two were sketched by 
Mr. Fitch from Messrs. Veitch’s collection. 
They are all varieties which can be commended 
as distinct and striking in colour and character, 
effective in appearance, and therefore suitable 
to be largely growur for decorative uses. Due 
do Cazes and Coupe dTIebe have both re¬ 
ceived Certificates at the exhibitions of the 
Eoyal Botanic Society.—T. Moore. 
BERRA EXHIBITION. 
was president, awarded a silver-gilt medal 
to M. Fr. Burvenich, for the finest and most 
numerous collection of varieties of Strawberries; 
and silver medals to M, Leopold Haeck, Destel- 
bergen, for the finest collection of trventy 
varieties; and to M. Victor Ilage, Courtrai, for 
the finest collection of fifteen varieties. Various 
prizes were also given for smaller collections, 
shown in nine classes. Among the fruits exhi¬ 
bited very few were inferior; many were excel¬ 
lent, and a certain number exquisite in quality. 
M. ITaock’s list of twenty varieties inclndecl Mam¬ 
moth, Lucas, Comte clo Paris, President, Eosebory, 
Erown’s AVondcr, Cweniver, Duke of Edinburgh (?), 
Tlioodoro Millie, La Eoinc, Madame Fournier, Bijou, 
White Pino-applo (P), Fillmore, Ananas, Black 
Prince, Elisa, Br. Morerc, British Queen, Prince 
Imperial; those marked with a note of interroga¬ 
tion being considered doubtful by tlio jury, which 
was composed of specialists and connoisseurs. All 
the fruits were beautiful, except those of two or 
throo kinds, among wliich the I)r. Morevo evidently 
came from sickly plants. M. Ilacck’s (1st prize) 
three dishes wore fine ami woll-ohosen, consisting of 
Keens’ Secdlinij, an exquisite aromatic and scented 
Strawberry, the fruits exhibited being just in per¬ 
fection ; Vicomtesse ITdricart de Thnry (of which 
(iaribaldi, Madame de la Tour Maubonrg, Duchesso 
do Treviso, and even D’Eriso, doubtless by corruption, 
are synonyms), very fragrant, slightly acid, and quito 
ripe ; and Sif Joseph Paxion, less fine, but solid and 
magnificent. 
M, Victor Ilagc showed Cremout, Comte do Paris, 
