HORTICULTURAL SHOW.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 211, 3 September 1908, Page 3

HORTICULTURAL SHOW.

"FLOWERS THAT BLOOM IX THE SPRING." Patron: His Excellency the Governor. Vice-Patron: Mr H. Brett. President: MiArthur vM. Myers. Vice-Presidents: Sir J. Logan Campbell, Hon. Geo. Fowlds, M P., Hon. E. Mitchelson, Mr D. L. Murdoch. Committee: Messrs F. H. Brown. A E Grindrod, H. A. Marriner, W. Handley (chairman), G. Hnnt. J. H. Hutchison, W. Satebell. and H. W. Taylor. Secretary: Mr W. Wallace Bruce. Hon. Treasurer: Mc T. S. Jacka. Hon. Auditor: Mr E. S. Medley. F.N.Z.A.A. Hon. Solicitor: Mr F. H. Williamson Hon. Auctioneer: Mr E. A. Perkins.

Ladies" Committee. — President: Mrs Arthur Myers. Viec-President: Mrs P. A. Lindsay. Committee: Ooleman, Norman Grant, Major. David Hay. Molr, Ollphant, and Misses Bagnall. Rattray. and Shepherd. Hon Secretary and Treasurer: Mrs C. B. Stone.

The spring flower show, held under the auspices of the Auckland Horticultural Society, was opened at three o'clock this afternoon in the Choral Hall by his Worship the Mayor, Mr A. M. Myers. There was a good attendance. The hall had been tastefully decorated by the members of the two committees, bamboo, lycopodium, fern fronds, and leaves of the nikau palm being artistically intermixed and arranged around the walls of the hall, the result being a very pleasing effect. After the opening remarks by the Mayor, Meredith's band played musical selections, which added to the enjoyment of those present. This band will be in attendance again this evening, and to-morrow afternoon. On Saturday night the blooms will be sold by auction.

The entries in the narcissi classes are very large this year, but, although some very fine blooms arc shown, evidence ia not wanting that the lack of rain during the autumn and early winter, coupled with the recent cold, dry deather, has had a. bad effect, in that it tended to delay mm, ->f the blooms by fully n fortnight, and thus restricted some of the exhibitors in their selection for collections. The competition in thr narcissi classes is, however, very keen, the entries being much larger than usual. The contest for the champion dalTodil vase, for which there are throe enbrirs, means each competitor exhibiting 40 distinct varieties, excluding polyanthus narcissi, and of that number 30 must be represented by at least three, and not more than nine blooms. For the Barr competition thorp arc six entries, and. as this means each competitor staging from P0 to 150 blooms, it means that in the two competitions alone over 800 blooms require to be shown. The champion daffodil vase, which was matle by Messrs. Martinson and Worrall, has been polished up in honour of the occasion, and is handsome enough to warrant the keenest competition. Mr W. F. Buckland, being ono of the judges, was, of course, not a competitor, but he brought down from the Waikato a few daffodils for exhibition only, amongst which was a very fine bloom named "Mars." A very iine collection of cyclanipn in pots is shown (not for competition), by Mr W. Ball, and these were undoubtedly better than any that have been exhibited for some years past.

The judges this yoar are:—Daffodils, Rev. W. Beatty, and Mr \V. F. Buckland; other cut flowers. Mr T. E. Pearson and Mr A- McDonald; decorated tables, bouquets, eperpnes, and ladies' sprays, Mesdames A. 31. Myers, Scgar, and G. J. Mackay.

The decorated tables occupy the centre of the hall, and make a line display, great taste and originality being shown by the ladies who competed. The Auckland City Council shows, for cxhibiton only, an admirable collection of anemones, in which the various colours arc strikingly displayed. Mr. H. Brett's table of cut flowers (not for competition) is 12ft. by Oft., and dUpla3 - s a remarkably iine collection of ten week stocks, as well as other flowers such as giant iniirnonettc, hyacinths, and cyclamen. The ten week stocks in particular came in for a lot of praise, the wonder being expressed at such fine blooms being produced out of season. Referring to these flowers, Mr. Pearson, landscape gardener for the City Council, who has recently arrived from England, remarked: "Even if you were privileged to get them from Nice and exhibit them early in the spring in London, a display of stocks like this one would cause quite a sensation. I have never seen better. Here you have not only shades from rose pink to deepest purple, but from pure white to the most delicate shade of yellow." Mr. Brott was awarded first prize for his collection of 12 cut llowtrs; and the judges added that they wore worthy of special mention for the individual excellence of the blooms, espcciaiTy the flowers grown out of season, such as phlox drummondi and ten week slocks. This collection included also sweet peas, ranuncuii. anemones, hyacinths, freozias. alicems. daffodils. ,)npannse iris, heliotrope, candytuft, nemesia, and violets.

The cold wea.theT has had the effect of causing the show of cinerarias to bo a very poor one this yea/r, but the ranunculi are pood, and the cyclamens, to which reference is made above, came in for special praise from the judges, Mr. Peanvon stating that they were worthy of special mention, us he had never seen better in the Old Country. Mr. Ball shows some, cyclamen of very fine rosy tint, and one is almost the shape of a propeller. His drip whit* blooms are also very line specimens. Owing to one who had entered dropping out, the competition for the champion daffodil vase was between, last year's winner (Mr. .T. Kirker) and Professor Thomas. Both gentlemen made splendid displays, but the, vase was this year awarded to Professor Thomas, for a. collection of the following varieties: M. T. Berkely, Tongariro, CaJrercas, Madge Matthews, Addison, (."'. J. Backhouse, Victoria, Albians, Centaur, Bonanza, Sir Watkin. Emperor, Capilla. Kangitoto, Collen Bawn, Queen Bess, Egmont, Star of the South, Santa Maria, Dr. Johnson, King Alfred, Cynasure, Golden Fleece, Tortuosus, Splendens, Mrs. Walter Ware., Areturuas, The Pearl, Amabilis, Airini, Juno, Alderbaran, C. W. Cowan, Edward Hart, Cynthia. Gwyther, Glory of Leydon, Food of the Gods, Empress, and Katherlne Rpurreil. It will be seen that Professor Thomas had the advantage of showing in his admirable collection some of the very fine seedling varieties that he has raised. Asked his opinion a= to the daffodils exhibited, Mr. Pearson replied, "They are quite equal to, in fact better than, anything I have seen in the Old Country. It would ma,ke some of the producers of these varieties I see here mouths water to view the splendid specimens of their productions that are shown to-day." The committee has decided to award the certificate of .the Koyal Horticultural Society (with which the local society is affiliated) to Mr. W. B. Ball for his exhibit of cyclamens in pots, and also to Mr. H. Brett for his e.-cnibit of stocke and spring flowers, both of which received the ■warm commendation of the committee. The society also awarded the s»«nc certificate to Mrs. G. J. 3!avkay for

her exhibits of floral designs, daffodils amd other spring flowers. Iα the particulars furnished by a member of the committee yesterday, for a preliminary paragraph about the'opening of the show to-day, the mistake was made when referring to Mr. Brett's collection (not for exhibition) of stating that he would show carnations, instead of ten week stocks. PKIZL' LIST. The following is a list of the awards:— CYCLAMENS AND CAMELLIAS. (Judges: Messrs T. E. Pearson aud A. McDonald.) Cyclamens, 6 varieties, (5 to 12 each: W.. Mct'eteridse 1. Cyclamens, 3 varieties, 6 to 13 each: W. McFeteridge 1. Camellias, 1 variety: Miss Amy Reynolds 1. OTHER BULBS AND BULBOUS PLANTS. Anemones, 12 varieties, single, one bloom: Mrs Brown Clayton 1. Anemones. 6 varieties, double, one bloom: W. McFeteridge 1. Anemones, B varieties, single, one bloom: W. Feteiidge 1. L,. F. Edger 2. Ranunculi, 12 varieties: AY. C. Abraham 1, Mrs. A. G. Lee 1. Ranunculi, tf varieties: W. C. Abraham 1, Mrs. A. G. Lee 2. POT PLANTS. Narcissus, medio one pot: Mr Ernest Grindrod 1. Narcissus, niagui, one pot: Mr. Ernest Grindrod 1. Cyclamens, 0 varieties one of each: W. B. Ball 1. Cyclamens, :{ varieties: W. B. Ball 1. The judges desire to express their special commendation of the two foregoing exhibits. MISCELLANEOUS CUT FLOWERS. Collection. 12 varieties: Mr. H. Brett 1. The judges desire to express their opinion thiit this exhibit is worthy of special commendation. Collection. 6 varieties: Miss Amy Reynolds 1. Mrs. J. U. Hutchbsou 2. (Judges: Mesdames A. 11. Myers, Segar, and G. J. Mackay.) Kuorjrne. or other centre piece, daffodils, any foliage: Mrs Marriccr 1, Miss Margaret Ofebant -'. Tiasket spring flowers: Mrs O'Rorke 1, Miss Mary Ollphant 2. Bowl or vase, with any one variety flowers: Miss Nelson 1. Uaucl bouquet, violets: Miss Amy Reynolds U.c. Hand bouquet, primroses and polyanthus: Miss M. I'eel h.c. iTand bouquet, any flowers: Miss Jean Richmond 1. Table decoration, bulbous flowers, any foliage: Miss Kent 1, Mrs Brown Clavton 2, Miss Hazel Biiclslsiud 8, Miss Towle h.c. .1 union tabic dooora'tion. bnlbnus flowers: Miss Guxcu Marrlner 1, Miss Beatrice Olirihiint 'J. NARCISSI. Cl I AMI'ION BLOOMS. Magui Coronati, yellow: Professor A. P. W. Thomas (King Alfred bloom 1. Maßiii Coronati, bicnlour: Mr J. Kirker I Duke of IlecUord bloomj.

Meilio Coronatl. till classes: Professor A. P. \V. Thomas (Tongariro blounii.

Special Classes.—Collection, n> varieties (for those who have not won a prizei: Mr N. K. W. Thomas 1. Mr Ernest Criudrod li. Collection of 20 varieties (polyanthus narcissus excluded), .T to r> blooms each: Mr. J. Kirkei- (bronze medal) 1, Mr. J. W. Tibbs f'ollection of 10 popular varieties, " to o blooni.s each, selected from :!2 proscribed classes (bronze medal): Mr N. K. \V. Thomas 1, Mr. J. W. Tibbs 2. Mugnicoronati, excluding doubles (trumpet as lons as or longer than of Perianth, 0.p.. Empress. Maximum, Alliuans, etc.).—Nine varieties: Mr. Charles lle=k.'th 2. Six varieties: Mr. 11. E. Sharp 1. Mr. Charles Ilcskoih 2. Six varieties- Mr. A. E. Grind red 2. Modiocoronali, excluding double varieties {cup about half as long as segments of Perianth, e.g., l'arri, lncoinparabilis. and Lcedsii groups, ptc.).—Twelve varieties: Mr. J. KirkiT I. Six var:ctles: Mr. J. Kirker 1, Mr. ('. Ilesketh 2. Six varieties: Mr. A. E. Grindrod 2. Six varieties, red or orange stained cups: Mr. H. K. Sharp 1. Double. :'. varieties: Mr W. Uosser 1, Mx Andrew Nieoll 2. Polyanthus narcissus (including any variety bearing three or more flowers on one steml. 0 varieties: Mr A. Nieoll 1 and 2. Three varieties: Mr A .E. Orlndrod 1_ COLLECTIONS. Champion Daffodil Vnse, value 20 gutn oas. and silver medal, .for collection of 40 distinct varieties of daffodil blooms (excluding polyantbns narcissus), of which HO kinds must be represented by at least thre« blooms, any foliage: Professor A. P. W. Thomas' 1. Mr .1. Kirker (bronze modal) 2. I'nHeclion of 30 varieties, distinct, all classes, except polyanthus narcissus. 3 to 5 blooms each, daffodil foliage only (daffodil \asc and sliver medal): Mr W. Rosscr 1, Mr Andrew Nieoll (bronze medal) 2.