THE HORTICULTURAL SHOW.

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 6845, 30 March 1883, Page 4

THE HORTICULTURAL SHOW.

(From the Ne i» Zealand Mail.) Everybody loves flowers, though not everybody will take the trouble to cultivate them ; and there is no denying the fact, that time and trouble are both needed in horticulture to get anything like good results. At least this is the case in Wellington. Further north less attention is required. In Auckland, which is specially favored by nature, flowers grow almost spontaneously. Each little plot of ground, however humble, blazes with color as if a professional gardener’s skill had been brought into requisition. With fewer natural advantages, Wellington yet manages to make a display when occasion requires. Last week’s Horticultural Show was a decided proof of this, though there might have been a greater profusion of open-air flowers. The pot-plants made many a person break the tenth commandment. I plead guilty myself to casting covetous glances on some magnifioient specimens of coleus and begonia. Only the fortunate possessors of conservatories can grow such beauties. To my mind they are quite as delightful as any blossoms, even though they lack perfume. But the show of bouquets was not up to the average, in spite of the new feature of prize-awards to children. And I really think the judges for this department should be ladies, who, as a rule, are more competent to decide on the merits of combinations of color, and tasteful arrangement of the flowers themselves, than are gentlemen. This point, at least, should be conceded to them, and perhaps the committee will take the hint upon a future occasion. It was a matter of some surprise to me that, though the exhibition of poultry was solicited, no mention whatever was made of country produce—butter, eggs, cheese, honey, and many other products of the farm. In most districts things of this kind are sent to shows that are not exclusively horticultural, as this one certainly is not, or why accept poultry, &c. All that is necessary is a little encouragement to make settlers living within reasonable distance of the town, send in the products of their industry and skill for competition. And competition, let me tell you, would do a great deal of good, for I am afraid that many dairy-keepers are either ignorant or careless, judging from the quality of the butter obtainable. To effect a change for the better in this particular alone, would be a boon to consumers and a credit to the society. Some consideration of the sort induced me to apply for permission to exhibit some home manufactures of my own, which was courteously granted. ’Twas not that special excellence was claimed for these preserves and condiments any other than might be attained by any housewife not above taking trouble. But having in a recent paper given directions for preserving fruit, I thought it would be advisable to demonstrate the practical value of my recipes. Unfortunately the very things to which I desired to direct particular attention—the canned fruits—met with a misfortune ; the appearance being somewhat spoiled in the process of opening —a very simple one, by-the-by, when understood. 1 fear, too, that the halfcooked peaches intended to be finished in the pie-crust, were mistaken for table preserves. At any rate they did not meet with the judges’ approval. Upon opening other tins at home, all were found in fine condition, and just what they professed to be—excellent tart-fruits—-which I shall be prepared to demonstrate to any doubters. I also intend to submit cans of the fruit to should-be judges, and will lay the result before my readers. We housekeepers know what American canning means, and my object is to have our own canning done at home, instead of importing it at high prices, and I maintain that the home manufacture is at least equal to that imported. As regards bought preserves we really do not know what we are eating. Take for example a certain English jam factory, where, as a fact, not one single pound of fruit is used. Turnips are the foundation of all the jams, the variety is made by adding chemical flavoring essences and a cheap kinds of seeds, and wo accept this rubbish as fruit preserves, while there is any quantity of raw material at our very doors to be made into the wholesome, genuine, toothsome article in so much request by old and young alike. It would be a graceful act on the part of the Horticultural Society were a prize offered for the best preserves at the next show, and I may as well state that the Mail purposes presenting two prizes,—one for the beat collection of canned fruits, another for condiments, the bona fide production of housewives in the Wellington district. I hope that the society will supplement these with a prize for best home-made preserves. Elise.