WELLINGTON HORTICULTURAL SHOW.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4265, 20 November 1874, Page 3

WELLINGTON HORTICULTURAL SHOW.

The spring exhibition of the Wellington Horticultural Society was held in the Odd Fellows' Hall yesterday. In every respect the show was equal, if not superior to the vernal display of last year. The arrangements were nearly the same—the body of the hall being devoted almost exclusively to flowering plants, while the stage was occupied by a splendid collection of ' pines and coniferte. Exhibits from the kitchen-gai'den were to be found in the side-room off the hall. The attendance of visitors exceeded the anticipations of the society, although in the afternoon the hall was not too crowded. At night, however, at times it was uncomfortably filled, and the absence of an out-door promenade was much deplored. To Mr. Ludlam is due the credit of having shown the best exhibits, and the improvements made by him in floriculture were never more evident than at the show of yesterday. As expected, his rhododendrons, azaleas, anemones, and other beauties brooked no rivals, the corner which they occupied in the building being-the spot most frequented by visitors. The azaleas were shown at a disadvantage, it being rather late for these beautiful, but tender, blooms. Roses, of course, were the feature of the show, several varieties new to Wellington being exhibited. It would be difficult to single out any particular exhibit as the best, for all that care and attention could do must have been devoted to those which graced the stands yesterday. Some b»autiful specimens were exhibited in pots, but the cut blooms were never surpassed in this city. Mr. Mason, Mr. H. H. Travere, Mr. Ludlam, and Mr. Mountier are to be congratulated on their exhibits in this class ; but we cannot allow Mrs. Walter Johnston's collection to pass unnoticed. Great judgment .was apparent in the selection of the blooms, which were not excelled by any exhibitor. Calceolarias were not numerous, though they made up for number by excellence, Mr. McKay being awarded first prize and Mr. McNab second. These two gentlemen were again rivals in coleas, the former exhibiting four beautiful plants. Probably the mo3t conspicuous plant, from its height, was a specimen of Rußselia juncea, a splendid exhibit, although probably not its first appearance in the hall. Nevertheless, Mr. McNab is to be congratulated upon his possession. Fuchsias were not seen to advantage, being neither remarkable for bloom or number. One, trained in splendid style by Mr. H. F. Smith, was, however, generally admired, the flowers being few, but the foliage all that could be desired. Pelargoniums were moderately numerous, one of which, the May Queen, deserved the award it received. It was the choicest of three choice exhibits by Mr. H. H. Travers. Competition was keen for the President's prize, which drew forth a better collection than was even anticipated. Notwithstanding the excellence of Mr. Ludlam's rhododendrons, those submitted by Mr. Mason received their meed of praise and admiration. A large cactus in beautiful bloom was shown by Mrs. Sharp, but the novelty in this class was furnished by Mr. Smith, who exhibited an excellent specimen of the kind known as the rat-tail, which was fairly in bloom. Verbenas and sweetwilliams were sparsely exhibited, the season not being sufficiently advanced for these summer beauties. Mr. H. H. Travers, however, furnished a wellselected lot of the former, for which the judges awarded a first prize. Bi-color and tri-color geraniums were as plentiful as usual, Mr. H. H. Travers coming to the fore in this class with three splendidly-reared seedlings, although he was hard pushed by other exhibitors. Auriculas were not numerous, nor particularly good. There were a few good spikes of stocks shown, Mr. M. Bead and Mr. Mason vying with each other in this pretty bloom, the former gentleman presenting the most symmetrical cutting. Mr. McNab deserves more than honorable mention for a general collection of cut blooms, the effect of which was somewhat marred by the position it occupied. Mr. H. P. Smith sent several beautiful pots of the rare and beautifulfoliaged ivy geranium; and a beautiful creeper, the troporcolum tricolor, trained in a circular form, was much appreciated. The best collection of cut native blooms ever exhibited in this city was shown yesterday by Messrs. Bramley and McNab, and, though not to be compared with exotics for color, their subdued beauty called forth general surprise. The judges, although both exhibits were excellent, found no difficulty in marking the superiority of those from the Botanic Garden. _ Hand bouquets were not so numerous as in the summer shows, nor up to the average, Mrs. McNab being awarded first prize. Mr. Jeffs carried off tho honors for the best-dressed flower stand, very good taste being displayed, Mrs. McNab making an excellont second. Miss Bramley succeeded with native flowers as a hand bouquet, which the judges properly appreciated. Mr. H. H. Travers exhibited the first erica tricolor rollinsoni which has ever flowered in New Zealand. Another exotic shown by' him, tho primilla japonica, did not come up to anticipations ; but gymnostachium pcarcei, a stranger to New Zealand botanists, received due investigation from them. As before stated, the stage was almost exclusively devoted to pines and conifene, perhaps the most useful plants in all the show. Messrs. Bramley and McNab were the only competitors in this line, tho former gentleman receiving the judges' award. There certainly has never has been an exhibition of this class in Wellington to equal yesterday'B one. Five veronicas (native shrubs) were also shown by Mr. Bramley, and their appearance showed great care on his part. The fruit and vegetable exhibits were not numerous. Strawberries, gooseberries, asparagus, and rhubarb, were in advance of the season. Mr. Laing excelled in lettuce, Mr. M. Read in broad beans and peas, Messrs. McNab and Laing in cucumbers. Potatoes were about the ordinary, Mr. Laing, perhaps, slightly excelling other exhibitors. The judges appear to have given every satisfaction, though they were doubtless at times almost unable to decide the merits of exhibits, so close was the competition. We have necessarily omitted many plants, and exhibitors

whose exhibitions were deserving of notice, but our limited space prevents a more detailed account. The following is a liat of prizetakers : Class I—Pot Pi-ants. Amateurs—l New or Rare Plant—lst, 11. 11. Travers. 1 Specimen Plant in flower—lst, H. F. Smith : 2nd, W. Seed. 1 Native Plant in flower—2nd, H. H. Travers. 1 Variegated Foliaged lst H. F. Smith; 2nd, 11. H. Travers. 3 Greenhouse Plants in flower—lst, H. H. Travers; 2nd, H. F. Smith. 8 Fine Foliaged Plants, varieties—lst, H. 11. Travers; 2nd, H. F. Smith. 3 Begonias in flower, varieties—2nd, H. H. Travers ; H. F. Smith, commended. 3 Geraniums, single; varieties—2nd, H. H. Travers. 3 Geraniums, ivy-leaved, varieties—lst, H. F Smith ; 2nd, H. 11. Travers. 3 Geraniums, tricolor, varieties—lst, H. 11. Travers; 2nd, H. F. Smith. 3 Geranmms, bicolor, varieties—lst, 11, F. Smith; 2nd, H. H. Travers. 3-Pelargoniums, stage, varieties—--Ist, H. H. Travers; H. F. Smith, commended. 3 Pelargoniums, fancy varieties—2nd, H. H. Travers. 3 Fuchsias, varieties—"VV. Parris, commended. 1 Fuchsia—lst, H. F. Smith. 3 Petunias, doublo varieties—lst, AV. Parris; 2nd, H. H. Travers. 3 Potunias, single varieties—lst, "VV. Parris ; 2nd, H. H. Travers. 1 Climbing Plant in flower—lst, H. F. Smith •II 11. Travers, commended. 3 Calceolarias, varieties—2ud, D. Phillips. 1 Eose—lst, 11. F. Smith. 3 Auriculas—2nd, H. H. Travers. 12 New Zealand Ferns, in pots not exceeding Sin. in diameter—lst, H. 11 Travers. 8 Exotic Ferns, In pots not exceeding Sin. in diameter—lst, H. H. Travers. 0 Native Shrubs, in or out of flower—lst, H. H. Travers. President's Prize for Pelargoniums—lst, H. 11. Travers ; 2nd, not awarded. President's Prize Conifena—lst, \V. Brainley; 2nd, It. Donald. Mr. Maslein's Special, for 2 Roses In pots—lst, H. F. Smith. Ehododendron Edjiworthu Highly commended. Seedling Tricolor Geraniums, hybridized in "Wellington—Special prize awarded to H. F. Smith. Gardeners.—l New or Kare Plant—lst, Bramley ; 2nd, F. Mountier. 1 Specimen Plant in flower—lst, McNab. I Native Plant in flower—Bramley, commended (not in flower). 1 Variegated Foliaged Plant —lst, McNab ; ' 2nd, A. McKay. 3 Fino-foliaged, Plants, varieties—lst, J. McNab ; 2nd, A. McKay. 4 Coleus, varieties—lst, A. McKay; 2nd, McNab. 3 Begonias in flower, varieties—lst, McNab. 3 Geraniums, single, varieties—2nd, McNab. 3 Geraniums, double, varieties—2nd, McNab. 3 Geraniums, tricolor, varieties 2nd, F. Cooper ; McKay, commended. S Geraniums, bieolor, varieties McNab. 1 Climbing Plant in flower—2nd, McNab. 3 Calceolarias, varieties—lst, A. McKay; 2nd, McNab. 1 Eose—2nd, A. McKay. 3 Eoses—2nd, A. McKav. 2 Azaleas—lst, A. McKay. 12 New Zealand Ferns, in pots not exceeding eight inches in diameter—2nd, A. McKay. 0 Native Shrubs, in or out of flower—lst, Bramloy. Class II -Cut Blooms. Amateurs.—Annuals, bestcollection, varieties—lst, AV. Phillips. 0 Antirrhinums, varieties—lst, Captain Johnson; 2nd, AV. Phillips. (5 Verbenas, varieties—--Ist, 11. 11. Tracers; 2nd, \V. Phillips. 12 Verbenas, varieties—lst, H. H. Travers. . 0 Pinks, varieties—2nd, 11. H. Travers. 6 Stocks, at least 3 varieties—--Ist, T. Mason. 0 Sweetwilliams, varieties—lst, H. H. Travers; 2nd, J. Okell; T. Mason commended, and disqualified there not being G varieties. Best General Collection Cut Blooms, not less than 18 different species -Ist, T. Mason; 2nd, AV. Phillips. 0 Eoses, varieties—lst, H. 11. Travers; 2nd, T. Mason. 12 Eoses, varieties—lst, T.Mason; 2nd, A. Ludlam. 6 Best Eoses of any one class, varieties—lst, A Ludlam; 2nd, T. Mason. 6 Rhododendrons, at least 3 varieties —lst, T. Mason. 0 Azaleas, at least 3 varieties—lst, T. Mason. 12 Pansies, varieties —Ist, A. Bennett. Best Collection Native Shrubs, not less thai! 12 varieties—2nd, H. H. Travers. Mr. Travers' special prize—Miss C. Bramloy, for Hand Bouquet. Society's special prize for Collection of Rhododendrons—Mr. Ludlam. Society's special prize for Collection of Azaleas—Mr. Ludlam. Gardeners. —6 Antirrhinums, best collection varieties—lst, F. Mountier ; 2nd, C. Duncan. 6 Verbenas, varieties—lst, McNab. 12 Verbenas, varieties—lst, McNab. 0 Pinks, varieties—lst, F. Mountier ; 2nd, Donald ; McNab commended. 0 Stocks, at least tlireo varieties —Ist, McNab ; 2nd, P. Laing. 0 Sweetwilliams—lst, C. Duncan ; 2nd, McNab. Best general collection of Cut Blooms, not less than eighteen different species—lst, McNab ; 2nd, E. Donald. 18 Eoses —2nd, A. McKay. Best Eose of any one class—2nd, F. Mountier. 12 Pansies—2nd, Eobert Donald. Best collection of Native Shrubs, not less than 12 varieties —lst, Bramley ; 2nd, McNab. 0 Exotic Shrubs—lst, McNab; 2nd, F. Mountier. Class V, Open to All.—The best.model of a Flower Garden—2nd, A McKay. The best dressed Flower-stand —lst, Ellen Jeffs; 2nd, McNab. The best Handbouquet, not to exceed twelve inches in diameter—lst, Mrs. McNab ; 2nd, Ellen Jeffs. The best Handbouquet of Native Flowers—lst, Mrs. McNab ; 2nd, Miss A. Donald. Fruit. Amateurs.—24 Strawberries—lst, H. H. Travers ; 2nd, M. Eead. 24 Gooseberries—lst, T. Mason ; 2nd, T. Linnell. 12 Bunches Black Currants—2nd, M. Eead. 12 Bunches Eed or "White Currants—lst, M. Read. Collection of Fruit—lst, Mr. Ludlam. Gardeners —24 Strawberries —Ist, J. McNab ;2nd, W. Bramley. 24 Gooseberries—lst, J. McNab ; 2nd, P. Laing. Vegetables. Amateurs.—C Stalks Ehubarb—lst, T. Mason. 50 Asparagus—lst, T. Mason. 25 Broad Beans—lst, M. Read. 60 Pods Peas—lst, M. Read; 2nd, "W. Parris. 12 Kidney Potatoes—lst, T. Mason. 12 Round Potatoes—lst, T. Mason: 2nd, J. 11. Freeman. 3 Cabbages—lst, J. H. Freeman ; 2nd AV. Parris. 6 Turnips—lst, T. Mason. 0 Carrots—lst, M. Eead. 0 Lettuces—lst, H. 11. Travers ; 2nd, W. Parris, Gardeners—2 Cucumbers—lst, J. McNab;2nd, P. Laing. 8 Stalks Ehubarb—lst, F. Cooper. 60 Asparagus —lst, P. Laing. 50 Pods Peas—lst, P. Laing; 2nd, J. McNab. 12 Kidney Potatoes—lst, P. Laing ; 2nd, J. McNab. 12 Bound Potatoes—lst, P. Laing; 2nd, J. McNab. 3 Cabbages—lst, P. Laing; 2nd, J. McNab. 9 Carrots—lst, F. Cooper. 0 Lettuce—lst, P. Laing ; 2nd, F. Cooper. Best Collection Salads on tray—lst, P. Laing. Best Collection -Vegetables on tray—lst, P. Laing. Special prize, 0 Onions, F. Cooper.