MAGNIFICENT DISPLAY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 245, 13 September 1933, Page 7

MAGNIFICENT DISPLAY

NATIONAL DAFFODIL SHOW. OPENING OF EXHIBITION. WONDERFUL RANGE OF NARCISSI. With the North Island amateur daffodil competition one of the leading features, the seventh annual show of the National Daffodil Society of New Zealand opened in the A. and P. Association’s buildings this afternoon. There was a magnificent display of spring blooms in a wonderful range of gorgeous colourings. The show, which extends over two days, is being held in conjunction with the Palmerston North Horticultural Society, and the exhibition is one of unsurpassed excellence, a beautiful season having favoured the growth of some glorious flowers.

Whether revealed in creamy white perianths, flower segments of deep mellow shade, lily, whiteness or glowing buttercup hue, the daffodil holds pride of place in a reparkahle ' exhibition which seems to' have caught and imprisoned the greatest glory of the garden. Spring’s most delightful flower, the narcissus, is symbolical of beauty. Greek mythology honours the. name of the son of the river god Cephissus and the nymph Leiriope, and it has been handed down as a classification for that chalice-cupped and coroneted bloom of exquisite loveliness —the charming daffodil. But at the National Flower Show is to be seen the colourful and unique efforts which can be achieved by clever hybridisation and skilful propagation of the bulb. The numerous species of petalled beauty are a remarkable testimony to the artistry with which the flowers have been developed—in some cases with a rare gardening technique.

The National Society’s classes, in which valuable challenge trophies are being offered, are being judged by Mr C. E. Buckingham, of Lower Hutt. Commenting upon the display, Mr J. L. Weightman, of Feildmg, who adjudicated at the last two National Shows, stated that never had he seen finer blooms than those shown in the North Island championship classes, and he had been a judge at the principal shows for the past ten years. The quality was excellent, the flowers being shown in beautiful fresh and clean condition. The committee was to be complimented upqn the excellent arrangement of the exhibits, the lighting in the halls being perfect for their colour tones. There were many beautiful red-cupped varieties. NOTABLE VARIETIES.

Perhaps the most appealing of all the narcissi exhibited is the Damson, a variety with a beautiful fuchsia-red colour in the cup, which is a comparatively new development imported from Cornwall (England). Another outstanding variety is the Kantara, noted on account of its pure whiteness, and introduced seven or eight years ago from the north of Scotland.

Two Auckland-raised varieties are Armistice, a beautiful pale bi-colour, and Hallmark, one of the very best yellow trumpets. This annexed the championship at Auckland last week. With its characteristic shape and colour, Fortune is probably the queen of all daffodils. Merkara, raised in England, has an exquisitely coloured cup. Jean Hood, developed in Australia three years ago, has a splendid shape and a remarkable colour shading from orange to red. Tenedos is a huge white leedsii which last year was champion of champions at Lower Hutt. Flash Lightning is a daffodil with the colour effect which its name implies. Among other splendid exhibits are the beautiful white trumpet Beersheba, and Nesta, a glorious barrii, with a faint rim of scarlet oh the cup. The Militant, always a favourite is well to the fore, and Winsome Girl, a variety with a delicate pink edging, is well represented. This bloom is a popular one with all New Zealand ladies. Golden Perfection, raised m Hawke’s Bay, is, as its name suggests, a beautiful little plant and is stated to be the most perfectly shaped incomparabilis in commerce today. Copper Bowl is a very rare and new variety, raised from Fortune. • .... The seedling daffodils exhibited by Messrs C. Gordon (Hawera), A. Brewster (Feilding) and W. E. Weightman (Awahuri) contain very many fine varieties. Some of them are most outstanding, and there are many new breaks in colour. The entries number over 650, and establish a record for a Palmerston North bulb show. It may be some years before another National Daffodil Show is held at this centre, and the public again have the opportunity of seeing blooms of such perfection. Entries have been received from leading exhibitors in many centres including Eltliam, Wanganui, Hastings, Otaki, Woodville, Lower Hutt, Rongotea and Bulls. The Horticultural Show judges are as follow: —Narcissi, Mr A. Gibson (Marton); other flowers and vegetables, Mr F. Mason (Feilding); domestic classes, Mrs 7. K. Drew (Sanson) ; decorative, Mrs J. Barltrop (Feilding). * Stewards’ duties are being carried out most efficiently by Misses D’Atli and Woodhouse, Mesdames A. F. Wimsett, Meyrick, ,S- Bayliss, L. T. Brown, W. J. Phillips and R. A. McKenzie; Messrs A. J. Shailer, A. W. Just, D. S. Robinson, G. H. Dawick, C. J. Erenstrom, H. D. Smith, and W. L. H. Chapman. Luncheon and the afternoon tea arrangements are under the capable supervision of Mesdames A. W. Just, B. M. Munro, A. Munro, A. J. Shailer and H. D. Smith. Credit for the success which has been achieved is in large measure due to the painstaking preparations made by the popular and hard-working secretary (Mr J. Galland).