WELLINGTON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4200, 5 September 1874, Page 3

WELLINGTON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

FIRST SHOW OF THE SEASON. , The first show of flowers, &0., for the season, under the auspices of this Society, was held yesterday in the Theatre Royal, and ■was a perfect success. It will be remembered that last year, for the first time, a special show was proposed at this early season, more as an experi- ' ment than with much confidence in the result. That result, however, exceeded expectation. Both amateurs and gardeners wore large contributors, and the Society was encouraged to make an early show a regular portion of their yearly programme. Yesterday's exhibition, therefore, was the first of the series which will be given annually. , Tbe show took place undoubtedly under disadvantageous circumstances. Tbe winter has been of tbe wildest iu the matter of weather, and by no means favorable to florist or gardener. Notwithstanding ,_this chawback, however, the show was considered a remarkably good one. Had the exhibits' been displayed in a smaller room than the Theatre .they would have shown more effectively as a collection, hut the ample space at the command of, the Secretary and managers enable them to set them out on tables with ample room between, and on tbe side benches, so that they could be examined with comfort by the numerous visitors. His Excellency and Lady Eergusson, under whose patronage the show took place, were present f&r some time in .the' afternoon, and a large number of visitors visited the exhibition in tbe course of the clay. The display of - cut camellias was perhaps the most attractive part of the show. ‘ For Mr. Ludlam’s special prize there were only two competitors—Mr. .Ludlam himself and Mr. T. Mason. Both - gentlemen sent a number of baskets of flowers, red and white, and of other colors ; and though the prize fell to Mr. Ludlam, it was admitted that Mr. Mason's exhibits were very fine. The judges in this, and in many other instances, had very groat difficulty in adjudicating. A number of hybrid rhododendrons exhibited by Mr. Ludlam were ' also much admired. Sir. Bramley, of the Botanical Gardens, deserved credit for his seedling camellias, which, were finely grown, and beautiful flowers. A Tasconia van volxemii, grown by Mr. Luxford, of Berhampore Karin, was a new thing in Wellington exhibitions, and attracted considerable attention. It had both the flowers and fruit, the latter being very large for so small and apparently so delicate a plant. There were two exhibits of new and rare pot plants—the one by Mr. Travers, and the other by Mr. Cooper. A New Zealand plant, with a pretty variegated green and white leaf, found by Mr. Travers, E.L.S., iu tho woods, was shown. It has been temporarily named piper e.xcelsis, but specimens will be sent to England, that it may be named by the highest authorities. In' Native ferns and shrubs, Mr. Bramley was also strongly represented, as usual, A specimen of clymatis indivisii was well worthy of special mention. It was shown as it was found in the Gardens. A new boronia megastigma was exhibited by Mr. Cooper. It is a plant -with a small delicate red flower, strongly lemon scented—as many ofthepocuiiarflowering shrubs of Western Australia are, the specimen having been obtained at King George’s Sound. A fine specimen of tbe white cyclamen, a native plant, also attracted notice. The seedling hybrid geranium, grown in Wellington by Mr. H. E. Smith, was much admired. It was sent in for' competition for the certificate of the Society, which has been awarded to it. This seedling, if her ladyship's permission is obtained, will be named “Lady Eergusson.” A seedling bicolored geranium, also grown by Mr. Smith, was greatly admired, while his tri-colored geraniums were considered well-grown and pretty. Tbe first prize, in this class, however, was awarded to Mr. Cooper, who exhibited some handsome specimens, two which were new, and were named respectively, “ Sophia Dumaresque” and “Mrs. Turner.” These were considered very superior. A tropicolum tricolorum also drew many admirers. There was a fine exhibition of primroses for show only, as well as for competition. The cinerarias were not quite up to. tbe mark, the exbibits only presenting two or three really good flowers. When noticing Mr. Ludlam’s contributions we should also have mentioned a magnolia conspicua, which was regarded as rather a remarkable contribution to the show,for this season of the year. On this occasion the ladies were invited, for the first time, to exhibit dressed flower - stands, which took the place of the usual table bouquets. "We shall leave to the judges to say which of the-ladies who exhibited excelled ; but we will say that the whole of the exhibits in the department—unfortunately they were not* numerous—gave evidence of much taste, ladylike and real. Tho exhibitors iu the vegetable department were numerous, and the display they made was very good in itself, and remarkably so when tho character of the season is again considered. On the whole, we have to congratulate the Wellington Horticultural Society on another genuine success. The following is a list of tho judges, and ■ their awards*— Class I.— Pot Plants (open to all) One - 'specimen plant in flower—lst, J. M*Nab ; 2nd, H. H. Travers. Three camellias—2nd, A. McKay, Two variegated foliage plants—lst, E. Cooper ; 2nd, H. 11. Travers ; commended, J, McNab. Two greenhouse plants, iu flower —lst, 11. E. Smith ; 2nd, J. McNab. Two fine foliaged plants—lst, 11. H. Travers ; 2nd, E. Cooper ; commended, J. McNab. Three cyclamens—lst, R. Donald. Two fine foliage begonias—lst, H. H. Travers. ■ Two begonias, in flower—2nd, J, McNab, Three begonias, tricolor —Ist, E. Cooper; 2nd, 11. F. Smith. Three begonias, bicolor—lst, H. H. Travers ; 2nd, H. E. Smith. Four cinerarias—Ist, Jr McNab; 2nd, A. McKay. Two azaleas—2nd, E. Donald. Two heath—2nd, H. 11. Travers, Three pimulas—lst, J, McNab ; 2nd, A. McKay, Four hyacinths—lst, R. Donald ; 2nd, A. McKay. Best group Now Zealand ferns—let, W. Bramley ; 2nd, R. Donald.' Six exotic ferns—lst, H. H. Travers. Two new and rare plants—lst, H. 11. Travers ; 2nd, E. Cooper. • Judges :—T. Kirk, Esq., F.L.S.; J. Burne, Esq., W, Heaps, Esq.

Class ll.—Cut Blooms Pour camellias, varieties—lst, T. Mason ; 2nd, Ludlara; commended, P. Laing. One camellia—lst, T. Mason; 2nd, A. Ludlam. Six rhododendrons, varieties—lst, A, Budlam. Six azaleas, at least three varieties—lst, C. W. Barraud; 2nd, T. Mason; commended, A. Ludlam. Twelve azaleas, at least six varieties—One exhibit; disqualified. Six hyacinths, spikes, at least four varieties —Ist, R. Donald; 2nd, J. McNab. Six bulbs, varieties—2nd, H. H. Travers. Collection exit blooms—lst, J. McNah. Colloction named Native shrubs—lst, J. Bramley. Collection exotic shrubs 2nd, J. McNab. Glass Tv.—For best dressed flower stand - Ist, Mrs. McNab ; 2nd, Miss Donald. Dor best hand bouquet—-Ist, Mrs. McNab ; 2nd, Win. Bramley. Special Phizes.—Presented by Mr. Lndlam;—Porbest collection cut blooms camellias; twelve, best ditto; six, best ditto—-won by Mr. Ludlam. Presented by Mr. McNab ; —Por three best seedling camellia plants, Wellingtonproduced—^won, by Mr. Bramley, Presented by Mr. T. Mason : —Por three best camellias, in pots—won by Mr. Bramley. Presented by the Society :—-Por two beat seedling camellia blooms—lst, Mr. Ludlam; 2nd, Mr. Bramley. Extras For azaleas—won by T. Mason. For Tasconia van volxemii—won by Mr. Luxford. For seedling geranium (competing for Society’s Certificate of Merit) —won by Mr. H. F. Smith. Class lll.—Fbcit and Vegetables : Ebubarb, for best exhibit —Ist, Mr. T. Mason ; 2nd, ‘Mr. H. 11., Travers. Three beads of celery—lst, Mr. F. Cooper. Six red beet—lst, Mr. Donald ; 2nd, Mi-. To Mason. Two brocoli—lst, Mr. T. Mason ; 2nd, Mr. P. Laing. Three cabbages—lst, Mr. P. Cooper ; 2nd, Mr. P, Laing. .Two red cabbages—lst, Mr. P. Laing. Six turnips—lst, Mr. J. H. Freeman ; 2nd, Mr. F. Cooper. Two lettuces —■ Ist, Mr, H. H. Travers ; 2nd, Mr. P.-Laing, Sea ICale, best exhibit—lst, Mr. H. IX. Travers. Twelve new potatoes—lst, Mr. P. Laing; 2nd, Mr. J. H. Freeman. Two cauliflowers onions—Ist, Mr. M. Bead; 2nd, Mr. T. Mason. Collection of vegetables on tray—lst, Mr. F. Cooper ; 2nd, Mr. P. Laing. Collection of salads on tray—lst, Mr. F. Cooper. Judges ; Mr. M. Bead, Mr. McKay, and Mr. McNab.