NATIVE GARDENS

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 69, 15 December 1931, Page 2

NATIVE GARDENS

Lord Bledisloe’s Trophy

AN OPEN COMPETITION

A meeting of the committee of the Wellington Horticultural Society was held last week, the president, Dr. Arnold Izard, being in the chair. A vote of sympathy with Lady Luke, one of the vice-presidents of the society, on the death of her husband, Sir John Luke, was passed, those present standing as a sign of respect. The National Rbse Society of New Zealand wrote asking for co-operation. The proposed rules were referred to a committee consisting of Messrs. MacKenzie, Nicoll, and Waugh, and Messrs. MacKenzie and Waugh were appointed as delegates to consider, the matter at the meeting to be held'in Christchurch during the horticultural week toward the end of next month. Nine entries have been received for this season’s native gardens competition. Dr. Izard read extracts from a letter from Lord Bledisloe, the donor of the shield, indicating that it was not his Intention that the trophy should go merely to the owner of the largest area of native bush, but was to give every encouragement to those who make the best and most attractive use of New Zealand plants in their gardens, whether large or small, making due allowance for the ingenuity and resourceful-; ness which their employment in a small' garden necessarily involves. A grant of two guineas was made to the funds of the Wellington branch of the Workers’. Educational Association, whose syllabus during the past season has included a series of lectures on horticultural subjects. After the conclusion of the committee meeting a members’ evening was held. A tine display of roses, sweet peas, begonias, and poppies was staged, and the cultivation of these Howers was discussed by Messrs. J. G. MacKenzie, R. M. I’orteous, G. S. Nicoll, T. Waugh, and H. A. Fox.