BOSS SHOW.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2396, 7 December 1881, Page 3

BOSS SHOW.

The annnal exhibition of roses under the management of the Christchurch Horticultural Society took place at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Lichfield street. During the day there was a considerable attendance, and mnch interest was evinced by visitors in what is or ought to be of course the best show of flowers that can be attempted during the season. It may he said at once that the efforts of the society, yesterday, were not crowned with that success which they undoubtedly deserve. The exhibits did not, either in number of quality come up to a very moderate expectation. The weather for the few weeks preceding, certainly had been anything bat favourable to the culture of the staple article of exhibition, and on referring to records of shows in previous years this seems to be a perennial complaint. At any rate it is certain that of the flowers shown yesterday, nine-tenths were in a stage not at all fit for favorable examinations. The stupid system too of sticking naked cut blooms into holes in boards painted green, is one calculated to exhibit not the beauties of the flowsrs so exposed, but their defects or failures without the slightest redemption to the artistic eye. It may be de rigeur, but it is certainly wrong to place roses on a par with potatoes, to invite the comparison of the choicest colouring of nature with the coarse daubs of a house-painter. Without frond or leaf as a foil or backing, the fairest flower cannot be shown to advantage, and there seems no real reason why the tables set out by the society should not be arranged so as to bring out all the loveliness of the wealth of colouring and form presented by the queen of flowers—the rose. The season, too, of the exhibition might be studied with advantage; It is true that by the unobservant the caprices of climate and weather are unnoticed, hut the true and watchful florist can always tell a week or two beforehand what his blooms are going to turn out, and a society composed of practical gardeners onght to bo able so to regulate their shows as to enable themselves and others to show to the best advantage, they should so arrange as to do themselves the credit that all true lovers of the art of flower raising so richly deserved. Taken as a whole, of the flowers, that is to say, roses, which were shown yesterday it may be said “ Icbabod,” their glory had departed. In size and variety there was not much to complain of, excepting the in judiciousness which forced exhibitors to bring out passe what might have been admired in their glowing bloom. There was a remarkable absence of grouped flowers. A very few table bouquets and vase knots represented the best nse that flowers should be put to. The only really good bouquet to be seen in the hall was in a vase exhibited by Mrs Thomas Gordon; the flowers were good, not overgrown, and arranged with taste. One or two other table bouquets were shown, but their gronping, as regards colour and the absence of relief to the main shade, was too offensive to secure for them favourable notice. In the lighter colours. Cloth of Gold was not well represented. A bloom or two exhibited by Mr Newby, though overgrown, was, perhaps, the best, and a paper-white rose, shown by Mr G. A. Beade, was deservedly admired by many. Mr Fricker tabled an immense bloom of Alba Bosea ; in an adjoining lot was a beautiful Souvenir d’ uu Ami, a lovely creamy pink rose. Naim and Sons had a fine example of Paul Neron, though it was a little off. Mr E. C. J. Stevens showed blooms in great variety that a few days ago must have been really magnificent, but with them, as with the majority of all in the room, it would be a mere farce to essay criticism. The best part of the show was of productions that did not properly belong to it. The exotic exhibits of Messrs Gould, Norman, Duncan and Sons, and others were many of them magnificent, The grotesque and splendid colored flowers of an Anthurium Schezzeranium, with its polished dark green foliage, was seen to great advantage. The curious Hibiscus Cooperii, begonias, selaginellas and others too numerous to mention were staged round the hall, and elicited deserved commendation. Taken altogether the show had plenty of material in it to secure success, but the event came off too soon or the season was too late. The following is the

PRIZE LIST. Cut Flowers. (Open class). Thirty-six roses, varieties; first prize £1 16s, second 18s, Hobbs, 1; Duncan and don, 2; Gimblett, 3. Twenty-fonr roses, in eight varieties; first prize, £l4s. H. Bull. 1. Eighteen roses, varieties; first prize 18s, second 9s. E. C. J. Stevens, 1; Fricker, 2; J. B. Armstrong-, 3. . Eighteen roses, six varieties; first prize 18s, second 9s. Spicer and Sons, 1; H. Burrell, 2. Twelve roses, varieties; first prize 12s, second 6s. J, B. Armstrong, 1; E. Ogden, 2; G. A. Eeade, 3. , Six roses, of one dork variety; first prize 6s, second 3s. ,G. A. Eeade, 1; J. B. Armstrong, 2. Six roses, of one light variety; first prize 6s, second 3a. E. W. Fereday, 1; J. B. Armstrong, 2; W. Hardy, 3. • Twelve roses, tea and noisette; first prize 18s, second 9s. G. A. Eeade, 1; Spicer and Sons, 2. Table bouquet of roses; first prize Bs, second 4s. Nairn and Sons, 1; E. Coates, 2.

CUT FLOWERS. (Amateur Class.) Twenty-four roses, varieties ; first prize £1 4s, second 12s. A Corrick, 1; E. W, Fereday, 2, Eighteen roses, varieties ; first prize 18s, second 9s. J. Hepworth, 1; R. N. Newby, 2. Twelve roses, in four varieties, three blooms of each ; first prize 12s, second 6s. A. Corrick, 1. Six roses, varieties; first prize 12s, second 6s. E. C. J. Stevens, 1; Mrs Thos. Gordon, 2; E. N. Newby, 3. Six roses, of one dark variety; first prize 6s, second 3s. E. N. Newby, 1 and 2. Table bouquet of roses; first prize Bs, second 4s. John Hepworth, 1. (Class for amateurs who have never taken a prize.) Twelve roses, varieties; Ist prize 12s, second 6s. F. J. Garrick, 1; F. H. D. Jones, 2; Mrs G. Fletcher, 3. Six roses, varieties. F. H, D. Jones, 1; Mrs G. Fletcher, 2, OTHER EXHIBITS—CUT FLOWERS, (Open Class.) Twelve pinks, not less than six varieties; first prize 7s 6d, second ss. Nairne and tons, 1; W. Gregory, 2. Six delphiniums, varieties. E. C. J. Stevens, 1. (Amateur Class.) Six pinks, varieties; first prize ss, second Be. W, W. Griffiths, 1. STRAWBERRIES. (Open Class.) Fifty strawberries; first prize Bs, second 4s, Robert Coates, 1; Allen and Sons, 2. (Amateur Class.) Fifty strawberries; first prize Bs, second 4s. P. H. D, Jones, 1.

EXTRA PRIZES. (Open Class.) The society’s silver cup, value five guineas, to be called •• The Champion Cup/* for the best twentyfour roses, cut blooms, named varieties. To be won in three years. The competition to he limited in the third year to the winners of the two previous years. The name of the successful competitor in each year to he inscribed on the enp, which will be retained by the society until the competition is concluded. (This cup was open to competition among members only.) Spicer and Son, 1; G. A. Eeade, 2. Mr E. C. J. Stevens’ prizes of £3 and £2 as first and second prizes for the best exhibit of roses of twelve varieties, three blooms of each, the blooms to be shown in threes, the varieties to be kept separate. Any exhibit containing a bnd instead of a bloom disqualified (a bud being defined as any flower not expandcd.to the extent of two-thirds) — G. A. Eeade, 1; Spicer and Sons, 2. Mr E. W, Fereday gave 14s and 7s as first and second prizes for best twelve roses in fonr named varieties, three blooms of each—Spicer and Sons, 1. , Mr John Hopper gave 7s and 3s as first and second prizes for the best six blooms of John Hopper rose —F. H. D. Jones, 1; G. A. Eeade, 2. Mr H. P. Mnrray-Aynsley gave 28s and 14s as first and second prizes for the best six blooms of roses, varieties, open to cottagers not professional gardeners—John Hepworth, 1. Mr William Howell gave a cribbage board of inlaid New Zealand woods, for the best six pinks, varieties—Nairn and Sons, 1.

EXTRA PRIZES, (Amateur Class.) Mrs Greenaway gave 10s 6d for the best six cut blooms of tea or noisette roses; open to amateur exhibitors who have never taken a prize for roses— F. J. Hill, 1. Mr A. Carrick gave 10s for the best six roses, varieties; exhibited by amateurs who have never taken a prize for roses—F. H. D. Jones, 1; S. Childs, 2. ‘ Mr G. A. Eeado gave 14s and 7s, as first and second prizes, for best twelve roses, in four named varieties, three blooms of each—S. Childs, 1. Collections of pot plants from Mr Norman, Mr Gould, Messrs Duncan, and Mr Gregory, and a collection of ferns from Mr Turton were highly commended.