NATIVE FLOWERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21925, 8 October 1934, Page 12

NATIVE FLOWERS

SPRING SHOW AT MUSEUM A COMPREHENSIVE DISPLAY MUCH INTEREST ROUSED • Almost twice the size of Inst year s excellent display, the J-hire! annual C'heeseman Memorial spring show of native flowers, was officially opened at the War .Memorial Museum by Sir Cecil Leys on Saturday afternoon. From a < small beginning this annual show, which was commenced as .a fitting tribute to the memory of the la to Mr. 1. 1* • Cheeseman, for 50 years curator of the museum, has grown with surprising rapidity. The visitors, who throughout Saturday afternoon, and again yester- , day, thronged tho two wings of tho | museum where the exhibition is being j hold, bore witness to the recent in- ; ; crease in interest in New Zealand's native plants," a result which has doubtless been stimulated to a large extent by the annual exhibition. In declaring the exhibition open Sir Cecil Leys paid a tribute to tho work done by Miss L. M. Cranwell, botanist at tho museum, in organising the display. In some ways tho New Zealand native flowers were not what on© would call spectacular, he said, and there were comparatively few that could compare in this respect with the cultivated flowers grown in garaens. They were capable of development, however, and experiments were now being conducted that would bring them to a stage where they would be very suitable for garden use. Sir Cecil referred also to the increasing consciousness among children of the beauty of tho flowers, a tendency that was well worthy of encouragement. | Miss Cranwell said that as a botanist she was attracted equally by all types of plants, but she agreed with Sir , Cecil that somo of the native plants were not particularly spectacular. She considered, however, that the beauty of some of the flowers could hardly be improved on and &ho mentioned that there was a demand for them for garden use overseas. Over 300 species of native plants are included in the show, the exhibits being representative of tho flora of a very Parge portion of the Dominion. Among tho special exhibitions arranged are displays of Maori medicinal plants and plants used for food, textiles and other purposes. Excellent entries were received in tho children's sections and many reached a high standard, while extensive collections were contributed by the Opua, Kaiwaka and Mount Eden schools. Results of the children's classes are: — , r . . Sir Edwin Mitchelson Memorial prize for best exhibit.—Marjorie Rohan. ■ Under 12 years.—Three species: Vol ma Thompson, 1; Margaret Hargreaves, 2; Helen 0 Shea, 3. Twelve to 16 years. —Three species: Sheila McKenzie, 1; Joan Btackwell, 2; Rira Mackie, 3. Three species from home garden: Rira Mackie, 1: Jean Clements, 2; Odine Woodward, 3. Sixteen to 20 years—Three to five species: Beryl Hooton. 1; P. F Robertson, 2; Marjorie Heuglian, 3. lhree to five species from home garden: I. P. Robertson, 1; H. C. Mullenger, 2, Three species of one botanical family, j A. Walton, 1; A. D. Gifkins 2. ! "Food of the Birds" exhibit.—Marjorie Rohan; 1; P. F. Robertson, 2; 0. Fletcher, 3. rr The judges were Air. and Mrs. A. 1. Pvcroft and Dr. H. H. Allan. 'The show will remain open until about j Wednesday or Thursday and. at the conclusion the exhibits will bo availj able to schools f ( -r study. i