Horticultural Conference Opens In Christchurch

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30058, 16 February 1963, Page 13

Horticultural Conference Opens In Christchurch

On behalf of all amateur horticulturists, Mr J. Watling, president of the Canterbury Horticultural Society, expressed appreciation of the work done by members of the New Zealand Horticultural Trades’ Association when he opened the association’s conference yesterday. Acknowledging the debt, he said amateurs owed to members of the association for making it possible to grow many new varieties, Mr Watling said members had provided amateurs with much inspiration. He asked members not to do away with the catalogues they produced. If the efforts of amateurs did not always come up to the standard shown on the catalogues, it gave them something to work towards. Mr Watling spoke of the founding of the Royal Horticultural Society in Britain, and said that New Zealand had followed fairly closely. The first flower show held in Christchurch was in 1852. Since then horticulture had been largely dependent on the men in the horticultural business, and nurserymen had imported many new varieties.

Plante which had been raised in New Zealand had been sent to all parte of the world. These included azaleas, rhodedendrons, irises, narcissi, lilies, gladioli, and

crab apples, said Mr Watling. One could hardly pick up a newspaper, without reading some reference to an infernal device, he said. One could not help wondering if the benefits from those people whose business it was to raise things to beautify the world were not greatly in excess of those from the people responsible for the infernal devices. Mr I. McHroy, president of the Canterbury district oounoil of the Horticultural Trades’ Association, welcomed delegates to Christchurch. It was six years since the conference had been held here, he said. Mr L. Clark, Dominion .presidenit of the association and chairman of the conference, referred to the special guests who included Mr J. F. Living, Dominion president of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, Mr F. Cooper, Dominion president of the New Zealand Seedsmen’s Association, Mr H. W. Grainger, president of the Canterbury Out Flower Growers’ Association, and Mr A. M. W. Greig, director of the Horticulture Division of the Department of Agriculture.

Horticulture was advancing on all fronts, said Mr Greig. It was particularly gratifying that at this time of the Royal visit he could publicly say how thrilled he was to ’ see the flower carpet being rolled out from North Cape to Bluff, and it was being done by horticultural enthusiasts.

Today delegates will go to Ashburton. Tomorrow they will visit Lincoln College and then be ait Ashley Gorge for lunch before going on to the Ashley ' State Forest nursery. They will attend a church service in the evening.