THE CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOW.

Press, Volume XIX, Issue 2813, 8 May 1872, Page 3

THE CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOW.

The show of chrysanthemums under the auspices of the Christchurch Horticultural Society, which took place last evening, although creditable for a first Rttempt, was yet not so good as we expected to see it: the flowers, with some exceptions, hardly being up to the mark. Still, we look upon these shows, as we have before said, as a step in the right direction ; and we hope that the society will foster them by every means in its power, as tending to advance the interests of horticulture amongst us, and also to evoke a warmer interest amongst the public generally in the progress of the society. That public interest has to some extent flagged, and that the society is not supported better than it is, is to us perfectly inexplicable, the more particularly when we consider the great amount ■of good such societies do by stimulating a love for the beautiful in nature. In a city like Christchurch where there is so much scope for the successful prosecution of horticulture, a society such as the Christchurch one should rank high amongst the associations and societies, and should be supported to the utmost by the more wealthy class of the community, so as to enable it to offer prizes of sufficient value to induce strenuous exertions being made to secure them, and we look forward yet with confidence to seeing the Christchurch (Society take that high position amongst us, and exercise that influence which it is entitled to. •

Coming to the show of last evening, vre may remark that to our mind it would have been better for the committee to have confined the exhibits to a certain number of blooms of each variety than to have left it open to the taste of the exhibitors. The staging of the plants was undertaken by Mr H. Crooks, who also acted as steward for the occasion, Messrs Nairn, Travers, and J. Allen acting as judges. The prizes were awarded for two classes, one open to gardeners and nurserymen and the other for amateurs. In the first class Mr Greenaway was deservedly placed in the front rank by the judges. His collection comprised eighteen varieties, amongst which we may note as specially worthy of mention, a very well grown specimen of Dido (white) and two of Anemone, one of which was of a beautiful bronze color, and the other a delicate pink. These were certainly the finest in the show. There was also in this collection Maid of Saragossa, Jupiter, Rifleman, Anne Salter, Fairy, and a Japanese variety, beautifully striped. Mr A. McGill, who took second prize in this class, exhibited' some very fine flowers, one pompon, a beautiful pink quilled variety, particularly attracting much attention.

In the amateur class there was a very creditable show, Mr Ashton taking first

houors iv this class, with a good collection, although the arrangement of them might have been better, and would hare added greatly to their effect. Iv remarking upon this exhibit, the judges stated that the prize was awarded to this exhibit ou account of the number of varieties being so large, they considerine the flowers shown by Sir W. j. Smith, which took second prize, much finer. Mr Hobbs'exhibit in this class was highly commended, and the pots sent by Mr Gordon, if they had uot been by mistake staged for exhibition only, would have taken a prize, as there were some very nice flowers amongst them. This exhibit received honorable mention.

Mr Green away exhibited a very nice table bouquet composed of chrysanthemums tastily arranged, for which he received honorable mention, as also did Mr Spicer for his bouquet, which, however, was hardly so com-

pact as Mr Greenaway's. Amongst the miscellaneous exhibits we may note a splendid collection of verbenas, shown by .Mr W. J. Smith ; one scarlet particularly being as fine as we have seen here. Mr Smith also exhibited a splendid specimen of capsicum, grown in the open air. which was loaded with fruit of a large size, proving tbat capsicums can be grown to great perfection here. Mr D. Nairn exhibited a pretty shrub called Solanum, which having dark green foliage with orange colored berries, would form a handsome ornament to a garden. Mr. Spicer had also amongst the chrysanthemums a bouquet of a somewhat novel character being a well-grown specimen of Snow's winter white brocoli, edged round with red chrysanthemums, which altogether had a

■most peculiar effect.-- A goodly- number of the public attended'-during the evening, ami as a rehole those entrusted with the management of the show may be congratulated upon its success.