THE FLOWER SHOW.

Evening Star, Issue 7799, 21 December 1888, Page 2

THE FLOWER SHOW.

The Flower Show was very well attended last evening, and will doubtless find plenty of patronage again to-night. The display of flowers is scarcely so good as usual, owing to the unprecodentedly severe weather that has boon prevalent; still there is a very great deal to admire, and the Garrison Hall is well worth a visit. Cut flowers are very plentiful, and in Bevcral classes they are of an unexpectedly good quality; but there are some exceptions, and the roje class is unfortunately one. We havo never before seen so poor a collection of roses, and cultivators of this queen of flowers are quite disconsolate at the meagreness of their display. As the prize-list showed, the leading prizes in this department were divided among Mr R F. Cook, Mr D. D. Macdonald, and W. Hitchcock in the open class; while in the amateur division Mrs J. Freeman and Mr J. P. Mackerras took tho leading awards. There was a far better show of pansies, all classes of which filled' exceedingly well, but in tho open list Mr G. Rcid took neatly all the first prize', Mr E. J. Reeve and Mri T. K. Sidey 'being the only exhibitors able to wrest a "first" from him. Jn the amateur division Mr G. Patterson carried all before him. Collections of cut blooms were exceedingly numerous, and they made a strong and very attractive feature of the show, while the competition among the large number of Exhibitors of them was particularly close. In the various cl»f>s<e<? the principal prizes went to Mr G. Ward, Mr'H. Spence, Mr W. Stenhouse, and Mr J. Christie. A collection of nativo flowers, shown My Messrs H. and H. Christie, , is also deserving of notice.' Ixias were very plentiful, and of above the average quality, and there were also some very fino pelargonium blooms, though we noticed that by this morning the greater portion of these had fallen to pieces. It would be well that these should be replaced before the evening, if that is allowable, The delphiniums shown by Mrs Twinning and Mr S. Cousins were splendid blooms, but pinks and dianthus were hot an extra good class. Bouquets were fairly plentiful, but we have seen better competition in this usually favorite department. In the open class Mra Twinning and Mrs 0. Lawrenco' had matters pretty well to tbemßelves, and each lady gained several well-deßorved prizeß; while on the amateur side Miss K. Burnside, Miss B.' Boot, and Mr V. WilJ kinson were the principal winners. There was a good array of foliage plants and plants in flower. Among the former, in the open class, may be specially mentioned some excellent pelargoniums shdwnby Mr R. Bagshaw, MrW. Royse's prize specimen plant (a fine euoharis), and Mr A. C. Purdie's magnificent ferns and native plants. In flowering plants class there was a very large number of exhibits, including a 1 fine assortment of pelargoniums sent by various, growers, some fair fuchsias and petunias, and' a couple of good orchids shown by Mr R. Thompson and Mr G. Matthews, In the' amateur class for flowering plants thero was another capital Bupply of pelargoniums, petunias, and fuchsias, with orchids shown by Mr A. Curie and Mr A, Scott, Tho leading foliage plants wero sent by Mr Soott, Mr P. M'Gregor, Mr W. Hardy, and Mr W. Wilson. Fruit was not very plentiful, the season being' so backward; but some fair strawberries,' cherries, and gooseberries were on view, together with some splendid grapes grown by Mr| Adam Begg. Some good specimens of vegetables were sent in, and this attractive depart-! ment of the sooiety's shows gives signs of receiving more general attention from growers I than used to be the case. i

The society have to thank several growers for lending attraotiveness to the show by forward-, ing extra exhibits not for competition. Among i these may specially be mentioned a quantity of, cut roseß sent by Mr J. Durston, and a prettilyarranged basket of flowers by Miss Durston, i some clematis blooms by Mr M. Mendershausen, a handsome table bouquet by Miss K. Burnside, * a few double marguerite bloomsby Mr S. Cousins, ■ a pair of splendid staghorn ferns by Mr W. ; Royse, some fine pelargoniums by Mr T. P. i Fisher, three splendid tuberous begonias by Mr P. Kemplln, and ft vroll'grownkalma laii/olia in; full bloom. This very handsome plant was; recommended by the judge? for a special prize. ■ A sjrand collection of pot plants was lent by Mr M'Bean, curator of the Botanic Gardens. Another striking feature of the show was the competition between Mr G. Matthews and Mr W. Martin for'the special prize for the best 00l | leotion of native plants. Both gentlemen sent in a large number of plants, the combined; exhibits totalling about aflO specimens, and the i array was productive of much interesjb to jbhe: visitors, ' ' !

A capital nrgpamme of music was sappjied laat evenmgjpTd a simile attraction will bje provided forto-nightf