ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3367, 20 November 1872, Page 6

ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

SPRING EXHIBITION.

Patrons :—H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, His Excellency the Governor, Hi« Honour the Superintendent: President, G. Matthevm; Vice-Presidont, G. JC. Turton; Treasurer, A- H. Shary; Secretary, A. Mackmlay; Committee, Messrs Arrol, Gebbie, Scott, Don, Clements, Graham, Jack, Dobbie, Reid, and Siovwrighfc. On Saturday, the 26th ult, the experiment was tried for the first time of holding a Spring Show. Its success was considered doubtful by the Committee, as it was hardly to be expected that at this season the show of flowers would be either very large or splendid. Many, however, were anxious to bring out certain flowers which could not be shown at any other time—especially azaleas and rhododendrons—and the result was most satisfactory, the collection being highly creditable for the season. Financially, however, we fear that the show was not successful, owing to a constant fall of rain which took place during the afternoon and evening. The inspection by the judges—Messrs D. Thomson, A. Begg, and A. Beverly— took place between 11 and 1, and at the latter hour the subscribers were admitted. The doors were open to th© public from 2 to 10. Notwithstanding the nun, numbers of those " fairer flowers" graced the exhibition with their x>re9ence, especially in the evening, when Me3srs Sykes and Reichardtdiscouraed most excellontmusic. At 8 o'clock, the President, Mr G. Matthews, introduced Mr J. W. Jago, who read a prize essay, written by Mr George Scott, on " The Beauty and Use of Flowers." It was a glowing tribute to these "soothers of human sorrow, symbols of our affections, tit emblems oil loveliness and innocence, bright smiles,, affectionate greetings, and confiding love." The reading of a short essay at the shows of this Society is a feature which for the future should, not be overlooked. It i« | not on the Drogrammes for the next two j shows, but" that is no reason why the Committee should not provide some iutellectual pabulum, in the shapo of an address or essay. A taste for the beautiful, and a disposition to occupy leisure hours in the garden, may be encouraged iv this way, as well sis by exhibiting specimens of fruits and flowers.

Beginning with the gardeners' list, and taking the stove and greenhouse plants, there wore three very good lots ; that of Mr W. Martin taking the first rank, and including a, plant new in Dunedin—the Chorizema cordate, which was in excellent bloom. Tt also included a Tropajolum tricolorum. There were two very fine collections of azaleas, that of Mr A. (}. Clementa taking the first prize. Tho same exhibitor took, a firat prize for two remarkably fine varieties of heath—a yellow heath being one of the finest plants in the room. Of fancy and stage geraniums, two collections were shown by Mr James Gebbio, junr. They were not in full bloom, but were fine healthy plants. Mr John WUboii was winner of tho first prize for cyclamens, Mr G. Scott for auriculas, and Mr W. Arrol for foliage planta. Mr Martin exhibited six remarkably fine ferns, three of which were tropical. Mr Gebbie was the only competitor in tulips. In cut flowers, the moat conspicuous were pansies and anemones. Several well-known professionals made no contributions to this show, and their absence was very much regretted. Mr T. Allan, who always had something remarkably good, was of the number. No doubt they are holding off for tho summer show, to take place in December.

In the amateur department the greatest displays wore made by Messrs Dobbie and Shury. It was too late in the season for camellias, and only one lot was staged in the room ; the show of rhododendrons was very poor, and bulbs were not as well represented as they should have been. In heaths, the amateurs were badly beaten by the gardeners The pansies shown in both departments were good. Mr Shury exhibited two really pretty geraniums, some good cyclamens, and fine foliage plants. Among the latter was a new silver Enonymus. A curiosity shown by him was a double cyclamen —which we consider no improvement upon the single one. Mr Bobbie's azaleas were very good —one of them being newly imported. For bouquets, Mrs Crawshaw, Miss Crawshaw, Miss Laura Begg, and Mr G. Matthews took first prizes. Mr G. F. KeidTs prnse for the best twelve forest trees, in pots, suitable for Otago, brought out splendid collections 'rom the nurseries of Messrs Beverly, Martin, Matthews, and Gebbie. Ac Mr Beverly's tree?, which took the first prize, are all hardy, of rapid growth, useful timber, suitable for this climate, and—with one or two exceptions— selfpropagating, we give a list of them :— Acer pseudo-platonus, Casuarina atricia, Acacia moltiwiina, Juniperus Virginiana, Ouprefisviß semperviretifl, C. rancrocjirpa, Pimis insignis, P. pinaster, P. tubercnlata, P. halepeums, Abies excelsa, Thuja borealis. In Mr Martin's collection, which stood second, there were some Bplendid coniferous plants, including the famous Sequoia gigantea and the Oregon pine. Mr Matthews's collection was also very fine, including the Sequoia gigantea, the Scotch fir, ash, elm, and sycamore. Mr Gebbie's collection contained the only sjKicimen of the larch that was exhibited. Mr Walden's prbe for the best twelve native shrubs, was taken by Mr Beverly. It included a splendid mountain veronica in bloom ; apimeliafrom the West Coast, in bloom ; and red and white birch. Messrs Matheson Bros.' prixefor the best specimen plant, was taken by Mr G. Matthews ; and Mr Shury was the successful competitor for Mr B. Bagley'a prize for cyclamens. Amonir the exhibits, there was a very interesting miscellaneous collection of shrubs and trees, shown by Mr G. Matthews ; a collection of cut shrubs in bloom, by Mr Gebbio ; a double flowering French cherry tree, in full bloom, by Mr Sonntag ; a fine lot of stocks, by Mr Fogarty ; a nice collection of seedling pnnBtes, by Mr Sonntag; good tnfta of rhododendrons, by Mr Ure and Mr Arrol; and Homo fine cactußea in bloom, by Mr Matthews. , . ■ Decidedly the most interesting feature of the Show was a collection of flowers made of paper, by Mrs Simons, of Great King-street, to whom an extra prize was awarded. They excited universal admiration There were among them roses, camellias, hyacinths, geraniums, carnations, passion flowers, crocuses, and primroses and daisies—all of which vied with those of Nature's growth, m every respect except perhaps that of perfume. This lady is a genuine artist, and we would recommend propagator^ when they obtain a new variety, to have its fac mmiv made by her. . There was a miserably scanty exhibition of fruits and vegetable*—not owing Ut a BCArcity of tho latter, b«t probably to the fact that there are no good prizes offered for largo collections. It is to be hoped that further encouragement maybe extended to this meritorious Society, by an accession to its list of subscribers, bo that better prize* rosy be given to the exhibitors of intii* and vegetables. *■ well as

flowers. Mr G. Matthew* took the fiwfc prize for rhubarb, but Mr G. Edward* had some on exhibition which was lar^r and appeared to excel in other rcspecta. Mr W, M*Cardle took prizes for greto. peas and strawberries. The names of the successful competitors will bo found below :— GARDENERS' LIST. I'LANTS IS FLOWKtt. Greenhouse Plants: 1, W. Martin; 2, A. G. Clements. Azaleas : 1, A. G. Clements ; 2, W. Arrol. Heaths: A. G. Clements. Pelargoniums : .1. Gobble, jnnr. Cyclamens: J. Wftoon. Auriculas :G. Scott. FOLIAGK PLANTS. Fine Foliage: W. Arrol. Ferns : W. Martin, BULBS IN KLOWKIt. Tulips : J. Gehbie, jun. CUT FLOWKKS. Paiwics: 1, J. Wilson; 2, G. Scotfc Anemones : J. Gebbic, juu. Cut Bulbs : J. Wilson. Hand Bouquet :1, G. Matthews; 2, W. Arrol. Vase of Flowers :J. Gebbie, jun. AMATEURS1 LIST. PLANTS IN FLOWKR. Greenhouse Plants : 1, T. Dobbio; 2, A. 11. Shnry. Camellias :A. Crawshaw. Azaleas :1, T. Bobbie; 2, A. Crsuvshaw. Fancy Pelargoniums: A. 11. Shury. Stage do : T. I Dobbie. Cyclamens : 1, A. H. Shury ; 2,T. Dobbie. POLIARK PLANTS. 1, A. 11. Shury ; 2, T Dobbie. BULIW IN KLOWKR, Tuli[»s : T. Dobbie. <'i;t rtxjwKßS. Pansies : 1, Mrs G. Forrester ; % A. IL Shury. Cut Bulbs : T. Dobbie. Hand Bouquet: 1, A. Crawjibaw ;2, A. 11. Shury. Vaso of FioweiH : 1, A. Crawtshaw : 2, A. H. Shury. FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. Strawberries: W. M'Cardie. Cucumbers : A. P. Smith. Peas: W. M'Cardie. Cauli-flov-rs: 1, G. Scott; 2, W. M'<ardle. Cnbbagea : .1, C. Sounlag ; 2, W. I»angmuir. Rhubarb : 1, G. Matthews ; 2, G. Scott. BPF.CIAL I'KI£EB. Gunn and Ross's Prixe for Bouquets : Miss A. Crawshaw. Mathcson Bros. 1 Prize for Specimen Plant : G. Matthews. R. M'Leotf and Co.'s Prise for Pair of Bouquets: W. Arrol. Jas. Gebbie, jun.'s, Prize for Bouquet : 1, W. Arrol ; 2, T. Dobbie. G. FKeid'a Prize for Best 12 Forest Trees suitable for Otago : 1, A. Beverly ; 2. W. Martin. B. Bagley'a Prize for Cyclamens : A. H. Shury. M. Walden's Prize for Ikst 12 Native Shrubs : A. Beverly. A. M'Kialay^B Prize for Gooseberry and Currant Wine: J. Sibbald. EXTRA PniZKS. Collection of Artilicial Flowers : M^m Simons. Stocks :M. Fogarty. Rhubarb : (i. Edwards. Flowering Plants :G. Matthews. Bouquet: Miss Laura Begg.