FINE DISPLAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 266, 10 November 1938, Page 13

FINE DISPLAY.

ROSES ON SHOW. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. DECORATIVE TYPES POPULAR. Fashions in roses may change: types may be discarded by the connoisseur; the amateur may be left behind by Iwtfanical science; but always the rose is the queen of the garden. it«s fragile petsils and perfume giving lustre to the most humble border. . ' It is lilting, then, that tho Auckland Horticultural Society's annual run" show should be one of the year's most popular fixtures, and the Newmarket Municipal Hall to-day presented a scene of fragrant beauty. The show was planned as a competitive display, being the lirst of a series of four, and marking a now policy on tho part of tho society. However, the response has boon so great that the display compares favourably with the two-day show held last year. Officials state that had it not been for the past week's unfavourable weather it would have boon impossible to stage tho exhibits in the \ewiuark»t hall. Good Season. The season, as a whole, had boon a good one for roses ill Auckland, but for many exhibitors the show had conic a week too lair. J)e-pife these conditions, however, the quality and number of the blooms tabled has given general satisfaction. One sinylo display included ">() varieties, 11uk being exhibited by the veteran enthusiast. Mr. F. Penn, formerly of Cambridge. The increased competition shows that rose-growing is being taken up more cut husiastirally. One of the strongest clashes was that for decorative roses, -'lowing that tlip modern rose is becoming increasingly popular as a decorative /lower. The big heavy rose of the past is stated by experts to be gradually going out of fashion, the present trend being towards the smaller symmetrical type and the generous clusters of climbers, miniatures and (singles. To-day's most enthusiastic grower was Mr. If. P>ennott. of To Kowhai. near Hamilton, who milked SO cows before leaving for Auckland, and will milk again after spending a few hour,- at the show*. While rosrs predominated, practically every early summer flower was represented. Viola* and pansies made a line | show, while clusters of cinerarias, irises I nasturtiums. antirrhinums, allwoodii, ] daisies, water lilies and even a few early gladioli made a brave and colourful show*. N*ot. the least interesting exhibits wore the native tree* and shrubs. Perhaps tho most striking was tho rowarewa or honeysuckle, with its dull green, sawedged leaves, and deep-red. bottle-brush shaped flowers. It is two years since the rowarewa has flowered in the bush near Auckland, and it is said to bo making a. tine show. Another spectacular tree is the liinau. wliieli has long bottlegreen loaves and clusters of white, starry flowers. There was a good sample of ronga lily, common on tho West. Coast. aKo a spike of tho ti. commonly known as tho low-growing cabbage tree. A tree becoming bettor known is the medicinal ktimarahou, which lias beautiful Yellow flowers.

Comparatively rare is the pink native tea-tree, which has flowers the size of half a crown, while a comparative stranger to the Auckland district is the kaiko mako, which lias light green leaves and small starry flowers. Other exhibits, which are all to lie seen in the Waitakeres. are t lie mairehaii, sim'lar in habit to the manuka. 11 n> taraire. the put a - put a - wf 1 ! a. which has deep crroou berries, and the karamu. with its broad, shiny leaf and fleshy buds. Official Opening. The show was declared upon hv the Mayor of Newmarket. Mr. S. Donaldson, who congratulated the society on the fine display, and expressed appreciation of the decision to make Newmarket the

venue of the show. TTo congratulated winners, adding that the judges had no doubt had difficulty in making their awards. The show will be concluded this evening. Results :—- uosrcs. Open.--Representative group: P. Penn 1. Twelve varieties decorative ruses (challenge cup) : 11. I ten net t 1. .1. Hunter I'. Twelve 1> 1 <><■ ins. distinct varieties I Brett IJose Challenge cup> : 11. Hound I 1. .1. Hunter -. K. IVn n Three Moonis, distinct varieties: \Y. A. Cowan 1. I'\ Penn I'. Three blooms, roil ruses: .1. Hunter 1. \V. A. t'lnvaii Three blooms, pink roses: .1. Hunter 1. W. A. Cowan "J. Three blooms, yellow roses: \V. A. Cowan 1. Throe ''looms, ere,-Mil or white roses: f. Hunter 1. \\ . A. Co\y;in I'. Throe Idootir-. any one variety: K. IVnn 1. \Y. A. I'nwnn Three blooms, new roses issued as novelties in Now Zealand since January, 1!K!1: F. I'enn 1. K. Ward