MANY SHOWS IN ONE

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 142, 18 June 1919, Page 9

MANY SHOWS IN ONE

THE POULTRY EXHIBITION

I Ths Palmerston North Winter Show is in reality several stows combined. The sections are numerous; the sphere of interest wide. It was in 1903 that the A. and P. Association joined hands with the Manawatu Poultry Association, the Manawatu Fruitgrowers' Association, and the National Dairy Association, and in that year the Winter Show was held in conjunction with these three bodies. The experiment was entirely successful; in fact, it ensured the entire success of the show. The important share of the general entries taken by the poultry section is shown in the following table of entries covering poultry, ducks, geese, pigeons, canaries, and the like, since 1903: — 1903 931 1904 ..1185 1905 1164 1906 „ 307 1907 468 1908 281 1909 242 1910 291 3911 708 1912 ■ 881 • 1913 819 1914 1028 1915 890 1916 955 1917 1069 The falling-off in entries in the years from 1906 to 1910. inclusive, was due to a- trouble which need not be detailed here. A satisfactory settlement was subsequently arrived at, and now the entries in this section show a tendency to increase rapidly. The poultry show is held under ideal conditions, and it is not surprising that there should be a collection of birds thoroughly representative of the whole Dominion. The Manawatu show is now regarded by farmers with a full measure of respect, and big advancement is expected in the future.

been an excellent collection of applesPippins, Munrq's Favourites, Delicious, almost any variety grown in New Zealand. Nelson, Hawkes Bay, Auckland, Manawatu and. Central Otago have always been represented in the past, andthe competition'between the various districts is keen and interesting. Of course, the fruit displayed on the tables is typical show fruit, free from blemish, and the judge, in awarding prizes on flavour, as he invariably has to do, must have an unenviable task. The small boy has been seen to watch the judge longingly, but even he would probably be thoroughly bored of apples after about four hours' continuous tasting. TO ENCOURAGE EXPORT. The apple section at the winter chow is arranged to encourage the production of export varieties more than anything else. This is only another evidence of the fact that the Manawatu A. and P. Association gives due attention to all land activities. "We saw that the export of apples was assuming an important aspect," said Major Dunk, "and we arranged our plans accordingly. The result has been very gratifying to the committee, which regards the fruit section as a very important one. Of course, the-apple exporter has received a bit of a set-back, but, apparently, that has made no difference to our show. We have been well supported by apple growers, all through the war. This year we expect to have another very good display. I suppose we must have the best exhibition of fruit in New Zealand. This year the Royal Horticultural Society's Medal is being competed for."

A.DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP? It cannot be ascertained definitely whether the National Apple Show, which was held in two successive years at Wellington and Dunedin will be continued. If not, it is suggested that a district competition or championship at Palmerston North wo.uld be a feature worth encouraging, in the fruit section. If the National apple show is abandoned—and so I far there is no reason to suppose that it I will be, and certainly no suggestion that it should be—tlie Maiiawatu Association should have but little difficulty in making arrangements for the national competition already suggested. The time of year is regarded as ideal for an apple show on a large scale. INCREASING ENTRIES. But the fruit section is not confined to apples, although the time.of year does not allow for a thoroughly representative display of fruit. However, there is always a good exhibition of pears. Fruit was first included in the schedule in

for a number of years will have noticed how many of the same companies compete year after year. They will have noticed, too, new names at each exhibition.^ The championship classes must, and do, create a spirit of rivalry between the various factories which is for the general good of New Zealand's primary products. Tli& keenest interest is displayed in the results each year, and the "fact that tho judging is in the hands of the experts of the dairy division of the Department of Agriculture ensures complete confidence. It is admitted that the judges, in making their awards, are guided by a very high standard, but nobody would say that the standard was too high. Anybody bold enough to,' assert that would find some difficulty in arranging a convincing argument.

AGAIN, THE EXPORT TRADE.

Chiefly, it is the export trade which tho association has set out to encourage. If New Zealand is to maintain its enviable reputation on tho London market, there must be no falling off in the quality of the butter and cheese imported from' the Dominion. It is advisable then, if not essential, that the judging standard should be high. It is important to note, also, that the judges' comments on the Palmerston North's ex-, hibits are as a rule general in character, reflecting on all the butter and cheese produced in the Dominion. It is taken for granted that the Palmerston display is thoroughly representative; at any rate, that it includes the highest quality butter and cheese manufactured in the country. This a-spect of the show is of the greatest importance.

It has already been shown that at the first show the butter exhibits totalled 17 and cheese 11. In 1903 butter went up 4 and cheese 9, and it was in the following year that the butter and cheese classes began to receive the measure of, 'support .which wa3 due to them. In 1904 factory butter for export was represented by 60 entries, which came from all over New Zealand, and there were 40 cheese exhibits just as representative. In 1905 the figures were 82 and 65 respectively, and in 1905 butter, with 103 entries, was first past the century mark. Cheese went down to 60. In 1907 and 1908 butter exhibits remained about the same, but the cheese exhibits increased. In 1909 the figures'.were 108 and 95 respectively. The year 1910 was a good one, the century being passed by both butter (153) and cheese (134). From 1911 to 1913 cheese showed ;i drop while butter maintained tlio 1909 figure. Then, in 1913, cheese began to turn the tables on butter, which was only a sign of the times. Cheese has been in the lead ever since, although uot until 1914 was there

COMPARATIVE TABLE OF ENTRIES RECEIVED IN CONNECTION WITH THE PALMERSTON NORTH WINTER SHOW. Section- 1981 1903 .1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 ,1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 BUTTER 17 22 60 82 103 91 93 108 163 155 140 136 107 124 109 156 111 CHEESE 11 20 40 65 60 58 76 96 134 82 92 81 124 138 123 177 151 JUDGING BUTTER ___________ io 9 4 3 2 1 JUDGING CHEESE — —.— ________ 6 6 34 21 'COMBINED SECTIONS — 113 355 420 490 501 412 806 928 699 806 924 965 1007 872 895 783 ART NEEDLEWORK - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 128 142 116 120 145 110 PHOTOGRAPHY — _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 114 63 62 40 61 26 DEERHEADS ' — _ ___•■_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ._ 27 11 8 FAT STOCK _ _ _ _ „, , 08 % 48 _ _ _ 90 94 33 58 - - COMPETITIONS — — _ _ 2 2 63 21 30 44 51 68 75 324 396 366 91 89 MILK TEST — — — — 20 17 23 32 20 11 7 16 — — — — — POULTRY _ _ 9^1 H85 1164 307 468 289 242 291 708 890 819 1028 890 955 1069 TOTALS 28 155 1076 1752 1970 1137 1193 1416 1525 1316 1833 2461 2653 2936 2587 2495 2359 * lndes home industries, fanners' butter, fruit, honey, vegetables, farm roots. NOTE.—In the above table some minor classes are omitted, and although some of the columns do not tally, the totals in each instance are the total number of entries received in the year. . .