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''Charles von Hügel is a biography of an Austrian army officer, diplomat, botanist and explorer known for his travels in India. Compiled by his son, Anatole von Hügel, the work was privately published in 1903 and contains several memoirs and other materials that form much of the available information on von Hügel's life.''

Among those in our country, who are gardeners and lovers of gardens, the thought arose of perpetuating the memory of Charles Baron von Hügel, the renowned promoter of horticulture in Austria. This inspiration has now been happily realized.

Near the scene of Hügel's successful exertions, in beautiful grounds accessible to the public, stands the bust which we unveil to-day, a work from the master-hand of Johann Benks. It is but fitting on this occasion to sketch the life-history of this never to be forgotten man.

Great as was his fame as a promoter of horticulture, that was not the only sphere in which his laborious life bore fruit. He laboured in many departments no less honourably, and, in some of these, with no less a measure of success. Indeed, I do not exaggerate when I say that it would be difficult to find anyone, sufficiently many-sided and possessed of enough detailed knowledge, to be capable of pronouncing an adequate judgment upon Hügel's various achievements.
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Featured August 2009