"BARREN HILLSIDES"

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 58, 18 September 1928, Page 18

"BARREN HILLSIDES"

Though there were no industrial exhibitions in Wellington in the early days, they took what they hurl in the \v;iy of horticultural shows rut her seriously. A festival was "held al: Wellington about Hie lilim! of January i:\vvy year, lo' commemorate the nnniversary of the lirst hunting at Pitouc" The "New Zealand Journal" of Otli AiiKiisi, JS-1", iiii-'oiiorjiting letters from Xew Zealand up (o the "ml .March, ' "The late Agent-General, Dr. Feathersioii, carried off the prize for dahlias, and had Ihe honour to be Ihe iirst to introduce this flower to Urn colony.." The show was a great success, notwithstanding that it was held "at I In.' most unfavourable lime, in the wannest weather, too Jate for the early, and too soon for the later, productions of nil the gardens; but tin: display was gratifying and satisfactory in the- ex-■ troine. Amongst the more remarkable e.xhibils were two cabbages grown within thirty yards of the sea, beach by Mr. Burchani, one weighing 2X^lb, and the otlfer weighing 121b. if the'so had been cut three weeks earlier they would have weighed at least 41b more, as they were past their prime. Koine of the potatoes, grown by Mr. Molesworth from native seed, measured nine inches long. The Rev. Jlr. .). ai'l^irliino generously oi'fered a prize of £3 os for the best gardener's almanack to' be commenced on Ist March next, and continued to Ist March, IS-HS." "Wo would wish, ili conclusion," says the "Journal," "to refer those who have represented us as unable to grow enough for our own consumption tt. the variety of vegetables included in this list, while as yet the colonists are in ignorance of the proper seasons, while ;t great portion of the country lands arc not surveyed, and I none of (in? roads leading to them are made, yet vegetables may bo purchased in Wellington much liner and cheaper than in London, and by far the greater part arc produced in the gardens round the town, on what are described as barren hills."