JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
389 
April  30,  1903. 
Li  Societe  Royale  d’Agricnltnrfl  et  de  Botaniqae  de  Gand. 
(Ghent  Quinquennial  Exhibition.) 
On  Saturday,  April  18,  the  fifteenth  quinquennial  exhibition 
of  La  Societe  Royale  d’Agriculture  et  de  Botanique  de  Gand 
was  opened  by  His  Maje.sty  the  King  of  the  Belgians,  who  was 
acoonipanied  by  Princess  Clementine,  and  remained  open  until 
last  Sunday.  It  was  held  in  the  Ghent  Casino  buildings  and 
grounds,  which  belong  to  the  Society,  but  was  so  extensive  that 
a  temporary  amiexe  almost  as  large  as  the  permanent  building 
had  to  be  erected. 
“It  is  of  interest”  fto  quote  from  an  excellent  report  in 
“  The  Gardeners’  Magazine  ”)  “  to  recall  at  the  jn’esent  time  the 
fact  that  this  Beslgian  societj’  began  in  a  very  small  way,  and 
without  the  flourish  of  trumpets  with  whicli  some  ventures  are 
ushered  into  the  world.  It  would  appear  that  in  1808  a  few  of 
the  horticulturists  carrying  on  their  avocations  in  the  city,  or 
within  a.  short  distance  of  its  boundaries,  thought  it  would  be 
beneficial  to  them  and  their  profes.sion  were  a  society  for  the 
encouragement  of  horticulture  established  at  Ghent.  The  pre¬ 
liminary  steps  having  been  taken,  it  was  decided  to  hold  an 
exhibition  in  the  following  year,  and  in  giving  practical  effect 
to  this  decision  the  society  helcl  its  first  show  on  February  7 
and  three  following 
days,  1809,  in  a  small 
wooden  shed  attached 
to  an  estaminet,  or  inn, 
and  this  was  regarded 
as  such  a  great  success 
by  the  promoters  that 
it  was  resolved  to  con¬ 
tinue  the  exhibitions, 
and  they  have  been  con¬ 
tinued  until  the  present 
time.  As  the  society 
increased  in  strength 
and  influence,  the  ex¬ 
hibitions  were  ex¬ 
tended,  and  seventy- 
five  years  ago  it  was 
decided  to  hold  every 
fifth  exhibition  on  an 
enlarged  scale,  and  give 
the  ‘  Quinciuennials  ’  an 
international  character, 
for  the  purpose  of 
giving  foreigners  an 
opportunity  of  seeing 
and  admiring  the  skill 
and  enterprise  of  the 
Belgian  horticulturists 
as  represented  at  them. 
This  innovation  has 
proved  immensely  suc¬ 
cessful,  for  not  only 
have  visitors  from 
other  countries  been 
able  to  see  what  is 
being  done  at  Ghent, 
but  they  have  been 
able  to  obtain  object 
lessons  of  much  value 
and  of  far-reaching  im¬ 
portance.” 
The  King  of  the  Bel¬ 
gian®  lends  his  active 
support  to  the  society, 
which  also  receives 
State  aid.  It  has  ex¬ 
ercised  a  great  influence  on  commercial  horticulture  in  the 
neighbourhood.  “  At  the  middle  of  the  past  century  ”  (says 
“The  Gardeners’  Magazine”)  “there  were  less  than  thirty 
nursery  establishments ;  but  from  that  period  they  grew'  rvith 
such  great  rapidity  that  in  1889  there  were  139,  and  in  1898 
there  w'ere  239,  while  at  the  present  time  there  are  about  400 
establishments  devoted  to  commercial  horticulture,  and  of  these 
a  large  proportion  were  represented  at  the  exhibition.” 
In  his  address  to  the  jui-y  (about  200  members  in  all)  Count 
Kerchove  said  that  it  was  a  matter  of  special  interest  to  men¬ 
tion  that  in  Belgium  there  was  about  1835  a  large  number  of 
horticulturists  who  rendered  splendid  services  in  the  introduc¬ 
tion  of  new  plants  from  various  parts  of  the  Avorld.  Especially 
conspicuous  were  the  names  of  Charles  MoiTen,  Scheiclweiler, 
the  Verschaffelt®,  Louis  Van  Houtte,  Louis  De  Smet,  and  Jean 
Linden.  To  mention  a  few  of  the  plants  only  that  had  proved 
of  great  importance,  he  avouIcI  refer  to  Begonia  Rex,  introduced 
by  M.  Jean  Linden  ;  and  Begonia  bolmen-sis,  Avhich  flowered 
for  the  first  time  under  cultiv'ation  in  Louis  Van  Houtte’s 
establishments,  of  which  there  are  noAv  numberless  varieties  in 
cultiA'ation.  Lord  Redesdale,  in  replying  for  the  jury,  said 
hoAv  much  the  hospitality  and  cordial  AA'elcome  they  had  received 
Avas  appreciated. 
The  Royal  Horticultural  Society  of  London  sent  a  deputa¬ 
tion,  consisting  of  Lord  Redesdale  (president  of  the  jury),  Mr. 
Lloyd,  Mr.  James  Hudson,  and  Mr.  C.  E.  Pearson  (the  hon’oraiy 
secretai-y).  To  the  three  exhibits  judged  by  these  gentlemen 
to  be  the  most  meritorious  and  shoAAing  the'best  culture,  they 
gave  tAvo  gold  medals  and  one  silver-gilt  medal  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society.  M.  A.  A.  Peeters,  of  Brussels,  obtained 
one  gold  medal  for  a  splendid  display  of  Orchids,  and  La  Societe 
Horticole  Gantoise  the  other  for  a  magnificent  group  of  Palms. 
The  sih’er-gilt  medal  Avas  giA^en  to  M.  E.  Bedinghaus,  Ghent, 
for  the  be.st  collection  of  tAventy-five  distinct  greenhouse  plants 
in  floAver. 
In  a  general  rer-iew^  shoAv,  our  contemporary,  “The 
Garden,”  describes  the  exhibition,  and  comments  as  follows: 
“  On  the  one  side  in  the  permanent  hall  Avere  the  stove 
plants,  chiefly  remarkable  for  their  finely  coloured  foliage; 
Avhile  on  the  other,  in  the  temporary  annexe,  Avere  arranged 
the  greenhouse  plants,  Avhich  made  a  more  brilliant  display, 
because  nearly  all  Avere  in  floAver.  The  Orchids  were  in  another 
smaller  hall  adjoining  the  permanent  one.  From  the  upper 
floor  of  the  Casino  building  one  Avas  able  to  get  a  comprehensive 
vieAV  of  the  Avhole  exhibition.  Looking  doAvn  upon  the  display 
in  the  permanent  hall, 
Avhich  was  heated  to  a 
temperature  suited  to 
the  exotic  plants,  one 
was  impressed  by  the 
excellent  effect  of  such 
an  arrangement  as  Avas 
here  carried  out. 
Along  the  full  length  of 
the  opposite  side  and  at 
either  end  Avere  banks 
of  greenery,  composed 
of  huge  Palms,  Tree 
and  other  Ferns  and 
Cycads,  here  and  there 
relieA'ed,  more  especi¬ 
ally  toAvards  the  mar¬ 
gins,  by  groups  of 
plants  in  floAver.  Im¬ 
mediately  beloAv  the  on¬ 
looker  Avere  the  prize 
groups  of  miscellaneous 
stove  plants,  remark¬ 
able  for  the  colouring 
of  their  foliage,  while 
in  the  centre  of  the  hall 
Avere  six  immense  beds 
of  plants  in  great 
variety.  The  centre 
one  Avas  composed 
largely  of  Crotons,  Dief- 
fenbachias,  Marantas, 
Anthuriums,  and  Ferns, 
and  in  those  just 
beyond  the  greenery  of 
numerous  Aroids, 
Ferns,  Palms,  Dra¬ 
caenas,  and  other  stove 
plants  AA'as  relieved  by 
irregular  masses  of 
brilliant  spat  lied  An¬ 
thuriums  and  richly 
coloured  Azaleas.  Tlie 
remaining  beds  were 
filled  Avith  Asparagus, 
Dracaenas,  Selaginellas, 
Anthuriums,  Crotons, and  many  other  plants  remarkable  either 
for  the  beauty  of  their  floAi  ers  or  foliage.  Broad  graA'elled  walhs 
separated  the  beds,  and  Avhen,  during  the  King’s  visit,  they 
Avere  thronged  Avith  the  royal  retinue,  the  scene  Avas  full  of 
colour. 
“  Looking  doA\  n  upon  the  other  side,  in  the  teinporary  annexe, 
the  aspect  changed.  Instead  of  the  restful,  though  perhaps 
someAAdiat  sombre,  colouring  of  the  foliage  plants,  there  Avas  a 
veritable  garden  of  flowers  of  the  brightest  and  most  dapling 
colours  and  the  plants  Avhich  contributed  chiefly  to  this  display 
Avere  Azaleas.  In  fact,  these  AA’ere  one  of  the  features  of  the 
slioAV.  A  circular  group  of  Anthony  Koster’s  lovely  hybrid 
Azaleas,  in  shades  of  orange,  red,  and  yellow,  occupies  the 
Cientre  of  the  floor  of  the  annexe,  AA'hile  beds  of  A'arious  sizes  and 
shapes  around  Avere  filled  Avith  such  specimens  of  Azalea  indica 
as  are  rarely  or  never  seen  at  home.  The  plants  were  simply 
masses  of  floAA’ers,  and  these  of  many  beautiful  colours — rose, 
purple,  red,  Avhite,  and  intermediate  shades.  Seen  from  abovi' 
the  heds  of  Azaleas  formed  a  brilliant  picture,  and  a  display  of 
colcur  such  as  can  ncA’er  be  ecjualled  in  our  exhibitions,  so  long  a-s 
the  present  stereotAq^ed  method  of  ai'rangement  is  adhered  to. 
The  Late  Mr,  A.  Pettigrew.  (See  next  page.) 
