NORTH OTAGO HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12260, 10 June 1914, Page 7

NORTH OTAGO HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

ANNUAL REPORT FOR YEAR ENDED 30th APRIL. 1911. "Your Comiuitee has pleasure in presenting the annual report and balancesheet for the year eliding 30th April, and in doing so has to congratulate the members on tile progress of the Society, for despite the fact that the season lias been a most- unfortunate one froni a, horticultural point of view, the Society has been able to keep al'l. its engagements and 1 to coine : out- on the right- side of the ledger. "The balance-sheet • shows that 'our credit balance has been increased frpm 6s 4d to £2B 3s lOd. besides six;, guineas ) still'to be collected, a total of .634 da lOd, which must be t'onsidercd highly, satisfactory ; a.-re-'Ult which may 'be explained by the policy cf economy adopted! by the Committee pt the beginning of their term of office, and also By the generous response of these ladies and' gentlemen who .always so freely contribute to the special- prize fund. Due allowance being' made for the weather , condlitioiis -of the past - year, the quality of tlio exhibits was I veiry good'. -The fact that the Spring J Show was itlie- largest- of 'the three i'hows S-iv.es .evidence of .increased intores-t in /the* narcissi 'competition®, which lias asso been -fostered by-the generous do nation of the Duart Daffctlil- Clip. The last-named/trophy was von by Aliss Manchester," of Waimate, .with a i?plendid exhibit" of 60 i'a-riet:-es, which was quite a feature of; the show. Sirs Douglas donated' a silver cup fo.f competition in the -decorative sections, to bo gained by the winner of .most points in tho. three shows of two consecutive years, and for this trophy the increase in the number- of entries showp the 1 £it;miiltLs that -her 'generosity-'has' given to these competitions',. Tile competition so far-Has proveij close and interesting, and jis the otitis to be (-.finally decakJ .during the' incoming' year, the success of these classes -is assured. Ouing largely, to/tlie efforts of Mr Maclean, with the help of. numerous other lovew of the rose,, a solid silver rose bowi was presented to 'the; Society. This was. won for the first time., by Mrs, Douglas, who also- gained!. Mrs BuTleid's trophy (a piece of .plate), presented for the ehamipon rose. - Th-o Oamaru Mail Cup was -again! won this year by M<f James Mitchell, who also hokfe ,the RedeastleCup fox collection-of cut Wopms grown in the open. The two cottage, garden cups were won by Mir A. Familton and Mr. A'. Gol'ding respectively'. The Silver Challenge Bowl for 12 sweet peas was agaiiri annexed by Mr Victor Hamel, -of Dunedin. The prrsidl.nt's trophy was won by Mrs J. S. Bee. "The school .children are to be congratulated 'on their large and varied entries, which i were quite a feature of the /shows, and a-proof that the work of the Society is successful in.producing tasteful--and' effective arrangement. "In the early part of the year Mr J. Isdiile. gave a. lecture 'on 'fruit culture, and at the same time- a conir.i-ehc-Tisiye display of clcse on 100 named varieties of apples was staged. Mr A. Baillie Ma.nsheld! alfio spoke on the same occasion, and* the evening proved both interesting and! instructive. At a later date Mr Mansfield- gave, under the auspices of vour Society, a demonstration of fruit tree pruning and spraying, 'at which there was a large attendance'. The thanks of the Society are due to Mr W. H. PatersonJor kindly placing a' portion of the Awamca- orchard at his disposal for .this purpose. Your Committee has endeavored' to encourage the various horticultural societies that are coming -into existence in the country 'districts by lending them staging and glias.sc j s' as well as by , personal interest in advising, and .judging. . / "Your Committee gratefuSy acknowledges the services- of. these ladies yh.3 so cheerfullv undertake the laborious duties- of -ihk refreshment and thus matermliy - improve the fin ancts.'