CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOW.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 95, 21 April 1894, Page 2

CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOW.

THE LAST DAY

DciiiNt; yesterday end last night the CbryfinthemuM Show at the Choral Hall was well patronised. Lady Glasgow and a party from Government House were preseHt in the afternoon, and were received by Mr J. \V. Tibbs aud Mr F. H. Templar. The two exhibits of foliage pot plants *in front of the stage are worthy of special attention — MrT.Cr&nwell'K for the very artistic disposition of a somewhat ordinary group of ferns and other plants ; Messrs Hay and Son's for the magnificence of the plants themselves, indeed, better grown plants have rarely been seen in Auckland, the calladium being especially fine. Messrs Hay and Son entered a protest against the decision of the judges in awarding first; prize fco Mr Cranv.e!!. Mr Cranwell's group was awarded first prize on account of the judges preferring his from an artistic point of view. The protest was considered, and sustained on technical grounds, the judges leveri-ing their decision.

In the cut bloom 9of chrysanthemum ■ shown by both professionals and amateurs some very fine blooms were die-played, numbers varying from 9 to 10 inches in diameter. The largest bloom in the show is International, a loo?e pale yellow variety, and a general favourite. The new bronze, Col. VV. B. Smith, was shown well by several grower?, and 'Mr Wells' exhibit of six has* never been surpassed. MrTibDs showed a new one named Excelsior, of a silvery mauve bne, and of splendid iorm. E. ■ C. Kingston, a deep purple, was well staged by Mr T. Whiteley. The numbers of new varieties this year is not so rharkod as last year ; indeed the growers peern to have contented themselves with developing some of the best importations of lafio, such as W*. Fricker, Anna Harfcehorn, A. H. Neve, Yellow Lacroix, and others. Indeed, we understand that many of the more recent importations have nor come up to the excellent form of those imported in 1892-93. If Florence Davis, the new English white, with a greenish centre, can be grown in good form, ii should make a sensation next year, for an exhibit, grown on very pcor plants, a.* we understand, shows that; it is capable of gre-it development. Of new incurved varieties, the only noticeable specimen is Mrs llobinron King, which is shown by several, in excellent colour, though hardly out.

The exhibits of Fpeo;men chrysanthemums are not up to the mark, the only specimen bein^ a pompom by JJr T. Wliiteley. It is to be regretted that the members of the Society do not lay themselves out for thia branch of culture, which contributes greatly to the interest in the southern chows, where the frosts and rains make culture so much more difficult. The classes for novices and ladies only are not well filled this year, though the blooms exhibited by Ji]r C. Grinchod in the one class, and by Miss Carruth in the other, are of a very high ordor of merit.

Tho Show will bo open till 5 this afternoon, and again from 7 till 9, when the annual sale of tha exhibits will bring the Society's display *o a close. During the evening, the Grammar School Orchestra, under the conductorsbin of Mr Trevithick, alternately with Hunter's Band, will render lively promenade tnuric, and there is every promise that a pleasant evening will close this popular annual exhibition.