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                                                                 EXHIBIT 23(a)









                      CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

   
        We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus
constituting part of this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report
dated February 28, 1996, except as to the stock dividend described in Note 1 
which is as of March 15, 1996, appearing on page F-1 of General Host
Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 28, 1996.
We also consent to the references to us under the heading "Experts" in such
Prospectus.
    




   
Price Waterhouse LLP
April 25, 1996
Detroit, Michigan