DAZZLING DAFFODILS.

Evening Star, Issue 14688, 4 October 1911, Page 4

DAZZLING DAFFODILS.

DUNEDIN SHOW OPENED TO-DAY,

A SURPRISING DISPLAY.

When the Dunedin Horticultural Society found it necessary to postpone the daffodil show there was a cry out that it would be too late. That apprehension is completely dissipated. Growers at St. Clair and one or two other early spots are handicapped, of Course—r-no date could possibly suit everybody—but the fixture has brought together the largest display of narcissi ever seen in our city, and that fact answers all questions as to the postponement. There are 109 entries in the narcissi classes, and of these fully 100 are benched. The tables for these flowers alone occupy a row the length of the Garrison Hall. Only two growers competed for the narcissi championship— Mr Andrew Millar, of Momington, and Mr Harry Hart, of Lawrence; but the Sydenham Cup, for collections of 30 varieties of narcissi, three blooms of each, no bulb to be of a higher price than 4s, has brought together six exhibitors,—viz,, Mr E. J. Reeves of Abbotsford; Mr N. Gordon of Sawyers Bay, Mr C. G. White of Roslyn, Mr A. Millar of Momington, Mrs G. B. Bullock of Maori Hill, and Mr J. P. Johnson of North-east Valley—a representative party of enthusiastic growers. Mr Hart won the championship and Mr Gordon the cup. “ I think it is the best spring show we have had,” says one wise man who likes to put his remarks cautiously. “ Fifty per cent, ahead of the Auckland show,” is the comment of another man with a general experience of New Zealand. “That collection of Harry Hart’s is miles ahead of anything shown in the North this season, and if ho had had another week ho would have paralysed everybody else ” —that is a further remark made by one who knows what he is talking about. Mr A. E. Lowe, the narcissi judge, proclaims officially: “The best show in the Dominion.”

Apart from the competitive exhibits, MrA.E. Lowe has brought from Colonel Rhodes’s garden at Okahuna (Canterbury) a very choice lot of narcissi, including several of his own seedlings, and these are bordered by some charming polyanthus of rare hues and a few wonderful tulips such as are seldom seen in Otago. The show is also strong in other departments. Looking through the collections of cut flowers, one sees some very clean and well grown hyacinths, schizanthus, freesias, cyclamens, heliotrope, etc., and in the open-air-grown collections a lino show of frittilarias, polyanthus, heaths, carnations, grape hyacinths, etc., also geraniums, colinesia, the varnished-looking ranunculus insignis, and kowhai. Mr Arthur White, of St. Clair, and Mr A. Youngson, of Anderson Bay, put up a good fight for premiership in Mareehal Niel roses that are a picture. Some really good anemones come from the garden of Mr Coulsou S. Pitman, of North Otago.

The decorative section is this time vitally important. As a sample fact the wallflower bowls number 14. In the class for table decoration, other than narcissi, Mrs Bullock has a pretty scheme in yellow—primula kewensis, Miss Nisbet relies on a pink table—schizanthus, and Miss MTntyrc has a white table—deutzia and freosias. The show is uncommonly strong in primroses, and here wo observe, firstly, that the amateurs seem to hold their own for quality, secondly that most of the exhibitors are ladies. One of the red primroses has blooms over an iuch across. Mr Walter M'Carthy has a few choice hyacinths above the ordinary standard for Dunedin, and his tulips are distinctly good for such an early date. Mr Arthur M'Carthy supplies a splendid splash of bright color with his table of cinerarias, cyclamen, etc., the sicllata being a feature of a strong collection. The •nurserymen’s tables are another attraction. Mr A. Youngson is to the fore with a capital display of ferns, asparagus, aspidistra, etc. ; and Mr J. H. Seidelin brings from Momingtnn some remarkable narcissi, his Cassandra, Madame de Graff, Glory of Leiden, and Mrs Camm being splendidly grown. The judges wore: Narcissi, Mr A. E. Lowe : decorative exhibits, Miss PulL.. ; pot plants, Mr A. Youngson ; nurserymen’s tables, Mr A. E. Lowe. The staging took rather longer than usual, so it was a bit late when the judges got to work, and a portion of tlie prize-list is held over. The, awards available are; —Plants in Flower —Grown in Pots and Named. — Six cinerarias.—A. M'Carthy 1. Six cinerarias (etellata). —A. M'Carthy I. Two pots or pans froesiae.—A. M'Carthy 1. One pot or pan freesias (.amateur). — Miss Pullen 1. Six cyclamens.—J. W. Stewart 1, A. MTarthy 2. Six Chinese primulas (varieties). —A. M'Carthy 1. Bowl narcissi {.grown in moss fibre). — C. G. White 1, J. Miller 2. Nurserymen’s competition.—J. 11. Sicdelin 1, A. Youngson 2. —Narcissi.— Champion competition (collection of not more than 50 varieties). —Harry Hart 1, A. Millar 2. Sydenham Cup (collection of 30 varieties). —N. Gordon, 114), points, 1 ; J. P. Johnson, 112 points, 2; A. Millar, 1051 points ; C. 0. White, 94 points. Eighteen narcissi, varieties.—E. A. Hamel 1, N. Gordon 2. Twelve narcissi, varieties.—N. Gordon (55' 1, E. J. Reeves (46) 2. Six narcissi, varieties.- —J. C. Thomson 1, K. .1. Reeves 2, C .G. White (44) 5. Twelve narcissi, varieties. —A. Pratley I, E. J. Reeves 2. Best Now Zealand-raised seedling narcissus (Trumpet).—A .Millar 1. Best New Zealand-raised seedling narcissus (other than Trumpet). —A. Millar 1. Twelve narcissi, varieties (amateur). — Miss Annie White 1. R. Fountain 2. Six narcissi, varieties (amateur). —H. T. Trevena 1, E. Grey 2. Three naieiesi,. varieties (amateur). —R. Nichol (12) 1, R. Fountain 2. Six varieties polyanthus narcissi.—John, Blair 1, A. Millar 2. Six varieties narcissi (amateur). —Mies Ainie White 1, F. Waite 2., Six varieties narcissi (Magni Coronati). — John Blair 1 and 2. Six narcissi (Medio Coronati).—A. Millar 1, John Blair 2. Six narcissi (Parvi Coronati). —A. Millar Six narcissi (Red Cups). —A. Millar 1, John Blair 2. . Six narcissi (Leedsi). —John Blair 1, A. Miliar 2.

-Decorative and Floral Work.—

Decorative vase of narcissi (amateur).--Miss Mabel Prentice 1, Miss Flossie Smith 2. Decorative bow! of narcissi.—Mrs W. D. M’Carthv 1. .Mrs E. A. Hamel 2. Bowl celmisias. —J. W. MTntyre 1, Mrs E. A. Hamel 2. Decorative bowl of wallflower. —Mrs H. D. Bedford 1. Miss A. MTntyre 2. Decorated floral basket.—Mrs E. A. Hamel 1. Decorator] floral basket (amateur). —Miss Mabel Prentice 1, Mrs W. T. Gross 2.

Bouquet, hand, wired.—'Mrs E. A. Hamel 2. Bouquet, bridal shower.—Miss A. MTntvre 1. * Two dress bouquets (1 lady’s, 1 gent’s). Mrs E. A. Hamel 1, Miss A. MTntyre 2. Two dress bouquets (1 lady's, 1 gent’s), amateur. —Miss C. Turner 1, Mrs W. T. Cross 2.

Epergne of narcissi.—Mrs E. A. Hamel 1, Mrs H. T. Trevena 2, Epergne of flowers, other than narcissi. —Mrs K. A. Hamel 1. Miss A. MTntyre 2. Table decoration, flowers other than .narcissi (amateur). —Miss Nisbet 1, Mrs Bullock. 9 -