THE FRUIT SHOW.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 107, 8 May 1896, Page 3

THE FRUIT SHOW.

Ab the Drill-shed tho exhibition of fresh dried and preserved fruib and of horticultural appliances and chemicals,-.leld in connection with tho Fruitgrowers' Conference, was visited by delegates on Wednesday afternoon. The general public are to be admitted on Thursday and Friday. The Australian delegates had been busy all the morning in judging, tho fruit having beon staged by the exhibitors tbe day previous. The fruib is displayed in plates on long benches running the whole length of tho room. The Australian exhibits have nob yot arrived, bub are expected on Thursday or Friday at the latesb. The display is of a very interesting nature. The exhibit of apples, pears and peaches from the South Island is a very tine ono, and generally the Show is tha best of its character which haa ever bean held in Wellington.

The besb collection of apples open to all Australia, consisting of five of each variety, for which the Whangarei Fruitgrowers Association has taken the first prize, is an extremely good one. Ib is worthy of nobo thab sixty-three oub of the seventy-two Varieties shown were raised by Mr Hanlon, of Whangarei.

Mr Morrison, of Mahurangi, secured tha firs, prize for the besb collection of pears, seventeen varieties being exhibited. These ht-ve been described as the besb ever seen in tho colony. It is worthy of notice that there were two fine specimens of Lock's -eedlir>g pears grown in Otago. His collection won tho firsb prize for fruib exhibited by New Zeala'jders. His citrons secured first and his demons second prizes. He also secured first prize for Gladney's red apple, those exhibited being very largo for thab variety. The exhibition of grapes is extremely good, mosb of tho districts in the colony bain? represented. Mo.it of the fruib haa suffered considerably in transib, and in ona or two cases mould was apparent. The grapes grown in tho open and in Otago,

though nob large, aro fine specimens. The Auckland and Canterbury exhibits also call for special note. Mr Palmer secured the first prize for the besb collection of grapes, the collection of tho Canterbury Fruitgrowers Asaociabion taking second prize. Mr Fowler (Pemberton) bakes firsb and Mr Taylor (Chrisbchurch) second prize for the besb bwo bunches of grapes. Mr Taylor's are Alicanbos and are a good specimen. In dried or evaporated fruib bhab exhibibed by the Governmenb and prepared by Mr Boucher, Governmenb Fruit Dryer, takes firab prize. The first prize for dried vegetables was secured by bhe Wanganui Fruib Preserving Company. For the besb canned fruib Mr J. Allen (Oamaru) secured first prize, whilst F. Bennebt (Carterton) took firab for fruib preserved in syrup. Mr3 Hillman (Pukekohe, Auckland) takes the first prizes for the besb jams, conserves, and jellies.

Tho exhibit of evaporated fruit is very large, tho chief exhibitors being from Canterbury and Wellington. Auckland is represented only by an exhibib of Mr Gubb (Port Albert). Among the .peciftl exhibits nre some Japanese persimmons, a fruit which would grow woll in the districts north of Auckland, which coukl successfully compote with Queensland in bhis respect. Numerous horticultural appliances aro shown, and also chemicals for the deabrucbion of orchard pests. Mr Gapes, of Paraparamu, shows a case of apples packed ready for exporb. Thia exhibit lias been most highly spoken of.

In wines the exhibib is nob largo, Mr Soler (Wanganui) taking first, and Karl Bro3. (Waikato) taking second prize. Tho Styx champagne cider secured second prize, but tho exhibitors aro certain bhab had ib been older ib would have secured a higher award.

Speaking generally, the show ia nob in respect to the display of the fruib, and in its general arrangements a complete success. Northerners complain that, owiDg to the exertions of tha southern poroologists, thoro is a much better show of southern fruit. It is also averred bhat, instead of tho exhibits representing one grower they havo been collected from several, thuß placing northern exhibits at a disadvantage. Canterbury growers, on the other hand, are feeling much aggrieved, and express the opinion that the show ia tha mosb illarranged that they have ever attended, and lacka organisation from beginning to end. Fruit of tho same class has been diatributed all over tho placo, thus rendering ib oxbremely difficulb to judge with accuracy, or to gather anything liko a proper idea of tbe whole. The opinion ia generally expressed thab the result of the .Governmenb experts' endeavours to pit one provincial disbricb againsb another haa been .bo make the show a complete muddle.

Despite the facb thab some of the fruit has been injured in transib, there is not much to choose bebween one district and another, and, with better management, the show would have been an unqualified success.

On accounb of an oversight on tho parb ol the Secretary of bhe Birkenhead Fruitgrowers' Association in respect to the Depratment's circular in connection with the show there are no Birkenhead exhibits.

The Otahuhu fruitgrowers and the fruitgrowers in the vicinity of Auckland are also unrepresented by exhibits. Thia is owing to the facb that steps wore nob taken in timo bo prepare exhibits. Considering that Wellington is one of the chief markets for Auckland fruit, this is re_-_ ..table.