THE GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10014, 28 December 1895, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE GARDEN.

Is looking back upon the past twelve months'oporntions and making comparisons it affords the writer great pleasure in stating that ornamental horticulture has again made marvellous progress. The year 1895 opened inauspiciously, the general mercantile depression then hanging over us threatened to curtail the spending power upon luxuries, and augured badly for floriculture. Happily fclio dark cloud soon passed gradually away, and the outlook is now brighter and more hopeful than for many years past. The romarkable development and improvement in chrysanthemums, dahlias, cannas, roses, begonias, and indeed all other popular varieties, clearly demonstrates the gigantic strides that Kybridiaors and specialists have recently inado, and the time and patience they must have devoted in the attainment of such perfection as that produced in the many now creations recently added to the lists, Tho chrysanthemum' still continue! its onward march of popularity, the Auckland and Cambridge Exhibitions were remarkable evidences of the advancement of this particular genus. The most recent and best novelties were shown in their fullest perfection of form, colour, and size—not only in the introduction of the latest novelties in chrysanthemums—are our enthusiastic growers to be congratulated Bub also in that of dahlias, roses, narcissus, carinas, etc., showing that we more than keep pace with the times. Rapid steamer communication and increased transit facilities enable us in the Antipodes to posses novelties very shortly after they aro distributed by the raisers. Exhibitions during tho year have greatly increased. Too much credit cannot be given to the promoters of children's flower shows. The cultivation of plants and flowers trains the yo'ing mind and increases the love for tho beautiful, besides encouraging habits of thrift and self-reliance, and makes the boy or girl a better citizen. Tho recent "Floral Carnival," inaugurated in Auckland by the benevolent ladies was indeed the feature of tho year, and will long b« remembered by our citizens in connection with the spring of 1895. Altogether lovers of horticulture can look back with pleasuro upon the past year, particularly the latter months when flowers have been so plentiful and all nature so frosh and beautiful. The prospect ahead too is most encouraging ; favoured by good weather our gardens are filled with healthy and flourishing stock. ORCHARD. Fruit prospects, as anticipated this timo last year, did not come up to expectations. The season throughout being somewhat unfavourable for ordinary orchard fruits, and no material advancement has been made to dovolope the industry. The export trade is still imaginary and likely to be until some better dovised system is adopted by growers, both in the production and disposal of tho crop. Growers complain bitterly that they are unablo to dispose of the fruits they already grow all remunerative prices. On tho other hand buyers state that with the exception of a few months when there is a glut that they are unable to obtain local fruit in anything like sullicient quantities to meet the demand. It is quite useless to think of an export trade until our (n'ciiardlsts are in a position to meet it. This can only be done by tho planting of •mtensive areas with those varieties that are mostly in demand, and can be successfully grown here. Leaving the export trade out ofaltogether, there is much to be done before our own requirements can be fully met. Hitherto growers havo planted indiscriminately, without regard to varioty or season, No thought has been turned to tho disposal of their crop otherwise than in the green state. Canning, drying, and bottling should be extensively done by all who grew wpre fruit* than they cuu dispose

of in the fresh state nt remunerative prices. When a great variety of fruits can be succesifully grown, it is a disgrace that we should be almost entirely dependant upon any foreign market for our supply. Id is remarkable how slow oven fruitgrowers themselves are in making provision for a supply for their own household during the off season. It is to bo hoped before anotheryoarpas!<e?ftbetterßtatooi affairs will exist. The mineral developments now taking place and in prospect, aro likely to settle a large mining population in our district, consequently future prospects are much more favourable. . Kepos.