Schools’ Sweet Pea Show Sets New Record

Northern Advocate, 1 December 1939, Page 2

Schools’ Sweet Pea Show Sets New Record

The sweet pea show staged by school children of Northland has transformed the prosaic interior of the Whangarei Town Hall into a bower of beauty. So cleverly arranged are the flowers, in classes and in school displays, that it is difficult to credit that the work has been performed wholly by the children without assistance from teachers or parents. This is the third annual show and it has set a new high record. Last year parents assisted will) the setting up of the school displays but this year everything has

been left to the children who have given free rein to imaginative and artistic sense of display. Children from the Far North to as far south as Holensville and Albany .are competing and the high class of blooms has engendered keen competition. Stage Display By Ladies. In the ornamental sections the use of any flowers has been permitted, and these vie with the sweet pea classes for first favour. The only section which is not the work of children is a beautiful stage display made by members of the Ladies’ Gardening Club. In a separate department 50 specimens of native trees are exhibited foxidentification by the children, substantial prizes being offered for the best efforts.

For this' competition the children have been preparing throughout the year.

They have given strict attention to nature study in class and, in the bush and have learned much from their school collections. When doubt has attached to identification they have forwarded specimens to Kupe, of the “Northern Advocate,” for information.

Seed Collecting' Competition

In the seed collecting competition for the Timewell Memorial Cup, which is being competed for for the first time, much time and effort has been spent. The collection of seeds from the many varieties of native trees has been a full year's work. Displayed in cellophane covered match boxes is the result of the year’s work. Although the section has not yet been judged, it. appears that the Ngararatunua School will secure the Trophy with an exceptional exhibit. Judging By Public. roi ly children from this school have secured (M varieties of seeds, and they have displayed them in match boxes arranged to form a tree, the varieties being numbered and identified. The Whangarei School has also made an excellent exhibit in this section. The show is under the auspices of the Auckland Education Board with Mr J. H. Dennehy, Instructor to the Board, in charge. The ti’ce section is under the control of Mr R. B. Steele, B.Sc.. Agriculture Instructor at Kaikohc, The school displays will be judged by the public, who will, be given full opportunity of viewing the exhibition which will remain open until 9 o’clock tonight.