HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S SUMMER SHOW.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 15, 19 January 1881, Page 2

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S SUMMER SHOW.

? Judges : Pot plants — Messrs. Cooper, D. Wilkinson, jun., andT. Kirk. Cut plantsMessrs. Wilton and Burne, and Captain Johnston. Vegetables — Messrs. Bramley, E. Dixon, and W. Jay. Fruit— Messrs. E. Dixon, Bramley, and W. Jay. The summer show under the auspices of the Wellington Horticultural Society, which was opened this afternoon in the Arcade Hall, requires but a brief notice, for it is far from being satisfactory. The tables are, in several instances, half empty, bare ends and corners show up in various directions, and neither in quantity nor quality do the floral exhibits come up to the standard of former summer shows. The heavy rain and wind of yesterday may have had much to do with this; but we cannot help remarking with regret that the interest in the exhibitions of the Horticultural Society is on the wane. In pot plants, begonias, fuchsias, and geraniums are most numerous, tho two latter preponderatingalsoatthe springshow. The begonias are well represented, and the varieties are remarkably good. Colens are also fairly represented. One side of the building is taken up with miscellaneous collections of pot plants, the only exhibitors being Mr. H. F. Smith and Mr. A. M'Kay, the latter gentleman taking the certificate of merit awarded by the Society. Mr. A. M'Kay is the only exhibitor in the class for greenhouse and foliage plants, and in addition to that gentleman, Mr. Pegden is tho only exhibitor of specimen fuschias. The collection -of cut blooms is. on the whole, exceedingly poor, the only blooms worthy of notice being the gladiolas and dahlias, and in the exhibits of tho latter Mr. G. Dixon carries off the palm for a collection of twenty-four magnificent specimens. These are, however, "for exhibition only." On one table is a heap of withered rubbish stuck into gingerbeer, champagne, ale, porter, and pickle bottles, tumblers, &c, tho whole tending to bring the society into ridicule. This kind of thing should be put a stop to without delay. AmoDg the better clasß of cut blooms many specimens had drooped and faded before the exhibition was opened to the public. The most pleasing feature in the show is the exhibits of vegetables, there being a fine variety with excellent quality — the quality superior, we may remark, to that usually vended in shops and from market carts. Onions were especially fine, some being of enormous Bize and sound throughout. Rhubarb, new potatoes, French beans, and cabbage were more numerous than other exhibits, and showed l that the soil of Wellington is capable of producing vegetables of these kinds equal to those grown in any part of the colony. Cauliflower exhibits were few in number, and marrows were not np to a high standard of excellence. Lettuce also was somewhat defective. Carrots, beetroot, turnips, cucumbers, parsnips, and broad beans, with one exhibit of tomatoes, complete the list of vegetables. The collection of fruit is small, comprising about eleven different kinds. He quality of the fruit shown is decidedly good, showing a high state of cultivation. Some of the Btrawberry exhibits are splendid, and the same may be said too of apples, gooseberries, mulberries, and a solitary plate of fig 3. There are two exhibits of apricots and one of grapes, several of raspberries, plums, and currants. The amateur classes are almost as fully represented as the gardeners, and are quite as good as regards quality. The Wellington Gas Company exhibited a collection of gas stoves, lamps, burners, metres, &c, the stoves comprising cooking and heating stoves, parlor grates fitted for gas, gas irons for laundry purposes, apparatus for boiling water, Ac. Mr. Laing has a refreshment booth upstairs, and a band will in attendance during the evening. The principal prize-takers are as follows : — Pot Plants : Amateurs — Messrs. H. F. Smith, J. Burna, W. Phillips, W. Parris, and Okell and Linnel ; gardeners — Messrs. M'Kay and Pedgon (the only exhibitors in the class) ; all comers — Mr. M'Kay. Cut Plants : Amateurs — Messrs. Phillips, J. R. George, H. H. Travers, F. J. France, and G. Dixon; gardeners — Messrs. Donald, Cooper, Wilkinson, and T. Mason; all comers— Messrs. Mason, Cooper, and C. E. Kirk, and Miss Hales. Vegetables : Amateurs — Messrs Wright, Samson, Burne, M. Read, H. H. Travera, R. Clark, and D. Duck ; gardeners— Messra. M'Kay, Cooper, Mann, Prior, Laing, Pegden, and Mason ; all comers — Messrs. Laing and Samson. Fruit: Amateurs — Messrs. Burne, Dick, Read, Samson, H. H. Travers, and J. R. George. (The gardeners and all comers' classes were not judged when cror reporter left.) A novelty in the show was a competition in exhibits of tables of dessert set for twelve persons. There were only two competitors — Messrs. Laing and Heighton. Both collections were very tastefully laid out, and both comprised about the same varieties of fruit, but Mr. Heighton was awarded first prize, his table being considered to be the most artistically laid. Mr. Laing was highly commended.