HUNTLY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume XV, 25 July 1930, Page 2

HUNTLY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING. The Annual Meeting of the lluntly Horticultural Society and Beautifying Society was held on Monday evening, Mr. Meek presiding. The attendance was very disappointing and much below normal and in wiew of this it was decided to leave the election of officebearers for the ensuing year to a meeting to be arranged shortly. The balance sheet was accepted as correct and the following report was submitted by the secretary:— Your Committee has much pleasure in presenting a report of its activities during the season 1929-30. Membership.

The total is now over 200, and rt is hoped to see a steady increase during the ensuing year, as this gives the Society an assured income to work on. Shows. There were two shows (Spring and Autumn) and two exhibitions (Gladioli and Chrysanthemum) held during the year. The past season was considered not a good one from the growers’ point of view, and blooms in many cases were not ready to compete at the date arranged for the show. However, despite adverse circumstances and inclement weather, the shows were financial successes, although the profit shown in some cases was small. In an endeavour to arrange a more suitable date for the summer show, the Society decided to postpone it, and as a result of this a gladioli and cut flowers’ exhibition was held in January. The response was not as good as was expected, although the profit shown was the largest of the shows held. This can be accounted for as follows:—The prize money was small

and together with sundry curtailed expenses, such as rent of the supperroom ( which was used instead of the main hall), there were a number of donations received which were not , utilised for prizes. As an outcome , of this experiment, the Society feels ' that in future it will not be advisable to postpone the dates of shows, as it causes disappointment to exhibitors residing out of the district especially when the dates have been printed in the schedules. : Donation to Town Board. The sum of £lO was handed to the Town Boaid being part payment of the Society’s share for the beautify- 1 ing of eeitain areas in the town. This donation was made in March, and since then the R.S.A. had been approached for its donation, which, it is hoped will be forwarded to the Town Board at an early date. Benefit Pictures. The Town Board had kindly undertaken to give gratis a benefit picture programme to assist the finances of the Society, and this had realised the sum of £B/19/3. AutunVn Show and Chrysanthemum Exhibition. The inclement weather again prevailed, and many exhibitors wove unable to enter their blooms owing to the lateness of the season, and the blooms being retarded in their growth. Three weeks later a chrysanthemum exhibition was arranged between a few exhibitors and the results from | the sale of flowers, less the hire of supper room showed a profit of 10. 9. Social. In order to assist the finances of the Society a dance and card evening was held on June 19th. Although the profit shown was not considerable, the amount of £3/5'3 was considered encouraging in view of the tightened circumstances which have prevailed in the district for some time. , Trophies. Two additional silver cups have been added to the list of trophies—one being Mrs. C. Bailey’s cup for amateur class daffodils and the other one by the Society for amateur class 1 chrysanthemums. Points Prizes. i The committee takes this opportunity of thanking the business people and others for donations of points prizes. Finance. The books of the Society as at June ' 30th, 1930 show a credit balance of £l3/1/7. This must be considered 1 favourable, as expenses have been heavy for the season, and the income - from the sale of members’ tickets is ' below that of the previous year. Interest in Shows. ! | It is desired to increase the interest [ in future shows and the Society is . looking forward to outside competi- . tion. Some enthusiastic growers in i the outlying districts have notified - their intention to compete, and when 1 the new schedules are printed they . will be circulated around these places. 1 Thanks. Your committee extends its sincere thanks to all those ladies and gentlemen who have acted as judges and ’ stewards to professional exhibitors, to the Huntly Press for its co-operation ir. matters requiring publicity, and 3 to all who have rendered service in furthering the objects of the Society. 1 Special thanks are extended to Mr. F. Harris who has always been so ready and willing to offer his services at all times, and his good work is placed on record in the books of >the„ V v

Society; also to Mr. B. Gardner and Mr. W. Alvey, jun., who undertook the work of making exhibition tables free of charge. The work of auditing the Society’s books has been carried out by Mr. J. Porteous, and to him is extended appreciation of his services.