THE FLOWER SHOW.

Evening Star, Issue 14004, 10 March 1909, Page 4

THE FLOWER SHOW.

DAHLIAS GOOD—-SWEET PEAS EXQUISITE—DECORATIVE EXHIBITS RICH.

The Dunedin Horticultural Society's show, opened in the Garrison Hall this afternoon, is perhaps more true to character than any previous autumn exhibition. Dahlias and sweet peas make so strong a display that there has been no need to call in miscellaneous garden products to fill the bench space. The subordinate classes are, however, adequately represented. Collections of cut flowers, for instance, are quite up to expectations, and it is pleasing to note th« effects of culture in such common things as the phlox Drununondi, asters, marigolds, etc., which may always be relied upon in any season. Asters, in their separate class, if few, are very fresh and well colored, and the same remark applies to the gladioli. Native plants are hardly the feature that they ought to be, but the two tables of ferns would grace the Crystal Palace, and the pot plants, though limited in quantity, are nicely grown and in excellent condition. Ihe fruit is enough to make one's mouth water. Howden and Moncrieffs collection from Otago Central is really first-da-s, tho apples being all that is desirable in respect to color and clearness. PeaTs'do not make a large show, but there is in this line a curiosity in a mammoth specimen grown by Mr A. E. Newick. of Bannockburn. The vegetables have been grown carefully, and quality is more of a feature than size. As to the decorativo work, nothing better has ever been seen in Dunedin. The lady exhibitors show wonderful taste, and have broke fresh ground in the matter of design. Of the ornamental plants, the asparagus Laricifolia shown by Mr J. Mendelsohn claims particular notice by its beauty and rareness. But the real strength of the show is the splendid display of dahlias and sweet peas. As between these the peas are easily in front.

The season has not been all that could be desired for the cactus dahlia. Cold and windy weather set in at the time when the plants were put out, and they stood idle for awhile, not gathering the strength that is necessary for thorough ripening. This told very much against novelties. The extraordinary heat of the last three or four days has also been against the dahlia, in that it has forced on the blooms too quickly. From one cause or another the flowers this year are less brisk and possibly a little dull in color by comparison with what might have been if our exhibitors had found everything in their favor. Still, it is a notable show that the cactus dahlias make, and one that vastly interests growers, because of the success in producing the fashionable type with long and narrow florets. Amongst these novelties nothing catches the eye to more advantage than H. Shoesmith, a brilliant red shown in Mr T. Scott's eighteen, and in the same collection may be seen the best type of white in the show—'Fairy, the only want in this being a little more size. MrScott's twentv-four contains another good red'-—■ H. W. Sillein—also Mrs M'Millan (soft pink), Diavolo (straw, splashed with dark red), Faunus (buff), Alight (dark terra cotta), and Mrs F. Grinstead (rose color). It is a very fine stand. So is Mr Hungerford's twenty-four. It includes a welldeveloped Wm. Marshall, T. A. Hakemeyer, Harkaway, Mrs Rabv, Cockatoo, and the peculiarly-maTked Victorien. Mr Aitcheson, of Kaitangata, sends some beautiful blooms, he having been very successful with Mrs Raby, Victorien, Hyacinth, and Mrs F. Grinstead; and. Atr M'Millan's exhibits of Thomas Parken, A. Morgan, Star, and Creposcle are equal to almost anything seen in the open classes. As stated above, tho supreme glory of tho show is the magnificent display of sweet peas. Growers are still working on the Spencer type—the crimped and irregular blooms—and the results are wonderful. Our growers evidently know how to feed so as to get color, and also how to shade so as to retain it. Attention may also be drawn to (he very tasteful way in which the sweet peas are shown. In this respect tho amateurs—mostly young ladies—who have exhibited so freely in tho "sixes" deserve special praise. There are six entries in the leading class (twenty-four), and all are forward, and Mr Rennie' must have had a job to judge them. Leaving his decision to tell its own tale, we may be content to direct attention to a few very fine blooms that appear in one or other of the collections, such as St. George, Mis Collier, Helen Lewis, Countess Spencer, D R Williamson, Mrs Hardcastle Sykes, King Edward VII., and Queen Alexandra. The colors are exquisite, and form ib got to perfection.

The judges were: Pot plants, Mr Q. Ward ; cactus dahlias, Mr L. Lennie (Invercargill); sweet peas, Mr Jas. Rennie ; fruit and vegetables, Mr J. C. Blackmore. Their awards were as follow: DAHLLAS.

Twenty-four cactus dahlias, novelties preferred (championship).—T. Scott (139 points) 1, J. S. Hungerford (129 points) 2. Eighteen cactus dahlias.—J. S. Hungerford 1, T. Scott 2. Twelve cactus dahlias.—J. S. Huugerford 1, T. Scott 2. Twelve cactus dahlias (amateur). —A. M'Mallan 1, G. Aitcheson 2. Six cactus dahlias (amateur). —G. Aitcheson 1, A. M'Millan 2. Twelve dahlias, double.—Miss Bishop 1. Six dahlias, double (amateur). —W. Bishop 1. Three vases single dahlias. —T. H. Clark 1. Six new cactus dahlias.—T. Scott 1, J. S. Hunger ford 2. • OTHER CUT FLOWERS. Twelve asters. —T. H. Clark 1, R. Nichol 2. Twenty-four sweet peas (championship). —David Wall 1, Ambrose Hudson 2, "Miss Milno and E. C. Clowes h.c. Twelve sweet peas.—David Wall 1, E. A. Hamel 2. Twelve sweet peas, varieties (aniateurl.— Mrs D. Edwin Booth 1, R. Fountain 2. Six sweet peas (amateur). —G. Moodie 1, F. Waite 2, Miss K. MaeDonnell h.c. Twelve gladioli.—J. Whyte 1. Six gladioli.—J. Whyte 1. Three vases carnations (Marguerite).— Sinclair Kornor 2. Twelve annuals.—Miss Kirkland 1. Cut flowers (amateur). —Miss A. M'Carthy 1, Miss Kirkland 2. Collection of native flowers.—J. W. M'Jatyrc 1 and 2. DECORATIVE AND FLORAL WORK Bowl of cut flowers.—Mise Dagger 1, Miss Pullen 2. Bouquet (hand, wired, other than shower). —Miss A. M'lntyre 2. Shower bouquet, bridal.—Mrs E. A. Hamel 1, Mis 3 A. M'lntyre 2. Shower bouquet, bridal (amateur). — Dora Cousins 1. Decorated floral basket. —Mies M. Pullen 1, Mrs E. A. Hamel 2. Decorated floral basket (amateur).. —Mise Martin 1, Miss Davidson 2. Two dress bouquets, 1 lady's, 1 gentleman's.—'Mrs E. A. Hamel 1. Two drese bouquets, 1 lady's, 1 gentleman's (amateur). —Miss A. 'Towneend 1 and 2. Dinner table decoration (amateur). — Miss A. M'lntyre 1. Table decoration, flowers and foliage only (amateur). —Miss Pullen 1, Miss Crow 2. Floral decoration suitable for drawing room (amateur). —Miss Pnflen 1, Mrs E. A. Hamel 2. Decorated mantelpiece.—Mrs E. A. Hamel 1, Miss Martin 2. Floral hat.—Mrs Oswin 1, Miss Cable 2, Wilson and M'Nab h.c. FRUIT. Two bunches Muscat grapes.—R. Glendining 1. Two bunches grapes, black.—R. Glendining 1, J. Fyfe 2. One bunch grapes. —J. Fyfe 1. Fifteen apples, dessert.—Howden and Moncrieff 1 and 2. Fifteen apples, couking.—Howden and Moncrieff L, F. M.. Wright 2,

Fifteen pears, deßsert.—Howden and Moncrieff 1 and 2. Fifteen pears, cooking.—Howden end Moncrieff 1, 0. Bates 2. Five pears, cooking (amateur). —W. H. Bariand 1. Five peaches.-r-Howden and Moncrieff 1. Twelve plums, dessert.—C. Bates 1, Howden and Moncrieff 2. Twelve plnans, cooking.—Howden and Moncrieff 1, P. Gibson 2. Collection of fruit grown by exhibitor.— W. H. Earland 1, C. Bates 2. Collection of fruit (open to growers in Central Otago).—Howden and Moncrieff 1. VEGETABLES. Twenty-four beaai, long pod.—G-. Harvey 1. Twentv-fonr beans, French.—Charley 1, Mrs D. Edwin Booth 2. Twenty-four beans, runners.r-A. Youngson 1, B. Fountain 2. Six beet.-—Charley 1. Two cabbages for table.—G. Harvey 1 and 2. Two cabbages, W. M'lntyre 1, G. Harvey 2. Six carrote for table. —C. M. Lane 1, Charley 2. Three celery.—Charley 1. Sixty potatoes, twelve varieties.—E. A. Hamel 1. ; Twelve potatoes, one variety.—F. W. Wright 1, Charley 2. Twelve onions, locally grown.—S. Stephens 1, C. M. Lane 2. Six parsnips.—G. Harvey 1, Charley 2. Fifty pods peas.—E. A. Hamel 1, Charley 2. Pumpkin, heaviest.—Charley 1. Six stalks rhubarb, for table.—S. Koner 1, F. M. Wright 2. Six stalks rhubarb, heaviest. —F. M. Wright 1. Twelve tomatoes.—Christie and Christie 1, J. S. Hungerford 2. 12 tomatoes (amateur). —P. E. Wingfield 1, W. M. Beal 2. Twelve tomatoes, dessert.—C. Bates 1, J. S. Hungerford 2. Six turnips, 3 wMja, 3 yellow.—Charley 1, E. A. Hamel 2. Two vegetable marrows.—Charley. 1. Two lettuces.—A. Youngson 1. Collection of vegetables.—R. Glendining Collection of vegetables (amateur).—W. M. Beal 1, J. J. Jowsey 2. POT PLANTS. Three greenhouse plants (amateur). — David Reid 1. Two pots iiliums.—G. Harvey 1. One pot lilium (amateur). —Miss Annie M'lntyre 1. Six turberous-rooted begonias, single.— R. Glendining 1. Three tuberous-rooted begonias, double. —R. Glendining 1 and 2. FOLIAGE PLANTS. Four foliage plants.—R. Glendining 1. Two foliago plants (amateur).—David Reid 1. Three pots ferns (amateur).—David Reid 1. Collection of ferns.—R. Glendininir 1. Fred G. Duncan 2. ' One specimen plant.—J. Mendelsohn 1, Miss A. M'lntyre 2. One table plant (amateur).—Mrs Eggers One fern in hanging basket (amateur).— F. G. Duncan 1.