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Communications |
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Speech by the Hon. Francis Agius during inauguration of the annual Bonsai fair |
Date:
05/06/2004
It is my pleasure to inaugurate for the first time the annual Bonsai Fair for the first time as Parliamentary Secretary responsible for agriculture and fisheries. Indeed this is a Fair to be proud of, because of the history behind this miniature tree grown in a tray known as the Bonsai gives a certain satisfaction.
Bonsai appeared in the fourteenth century, introduced by travellers who were discovering the East and had made eastern art fashionable. Booklets, with a certain amount of unconscious humour, dealt with the art of bonsai in a rather strange way, but not without poetry. They’re bore titles such as: “Japanese Curious”, “Japanese Gardens”… and then the art was forgotten. During the eighteenth century, it had been popularised to a certain extent by sailors coming back from the colonies with plants ordered by collectors or gardeners.
Today the, European countries were acquainted with all forms of bonsai. Associations or clubs had been set up were amateur gardeners can meet and talk to one another about their absorbing interests, exchange their bonsai or swap their recipes.
In the last years the Government has given special attention to the environment in order to see that the landscaping around us is up to standard.
I would like to thank Mr. Grech for giving me this opportunity to inaugurate this Fair and congratulate all participants in order to make this Fair a success.
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