CARNATION SHOW.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14439, 4 February 1909, Page 2

CARNATION SHOW.

A STRIKING SUCCESS. The Dutiedin Horticultural Society intended I lie carnation show 10 l>c a'comjiarativoly small affair, Imt yiwle.rday morniii» the officials found, to their surprise, that-it was to lie larger than any of its predecessor!:. The limns Hall, in which the show was held, is well adapted to the purpose. The interior, set* otr ihe flowers to advantage, and the sloping floor adds Io ihe general spectacular eifeet of I lie wellarranged tublvo. Tiic ttowore in evidence at carnation shows lend themselves easily to ariiftit arrangement, and this is perhaps the reason why the chief feature of yesterday'.- show was the highly decorative character of nearly all the exhibits. In dahlia or l'oso s.ho\vs the colours are apt to become monotonous, hut here the eye was gladdened with the charm of infinite variety.

'Ihe exhibition of carnations in vases with their own folinge is an excellent idea. M hen bedded in boxes and ringed with paper collars it is impossible |o manipulate the most indifferent blooms so thai their imperfedions will pass unnoticed: but in vases good and bad points receive equal prominence. Colouring and size in this exhibit were alike excellent, though there was nothing striking in ihe way of new varieties. Owing to a surfeit of moisture there litis been an unfortunate tendency towards blinding, hut many of the blooms shown were enormous and well-heatleil. All these carnations had been, of course, grown in the open.

The carnation show caught the sweet peas in the pristine freshness of their spring and summer bloom; consequently the exhibit was of the best. The ccol. moist weather has been most favourable to Ihe development of Ihe sweet pea, and some specimens on view had as many as six flowers to the stalk. All Ihe latest varieties were represented. The latest development is the Spencer type, with a wavy, crimped standard, giving the former a crusted appearance without detracting from its freshness. The primrose Spcnccr on view furnished an excellent sample of the type.

A salient feature of the show was tin? keenness nf tlie amateur competitions. For the nine classes of sweet pons in this seetfen there were 12 entries forward. and it may ho mentioned that the flows were men bettor thiiii tltoso in the open competition. Tlic amateur was a remarkably good display, covering a 32ft table near the out var.ee.

The decorative work well repaid inspection. .Some of the blooms were exceptionally beauiilnl both as regards carnations and sweet peas, and competition was very keen in ihe arranged vases. .Some varieties, of course, wore more striking than oihors. and. Ihe l.lond of orange, salmon, and pink, which proclaims ihe llcnry Kckford, compelled attention. One of these vases of tin: Henry Kckford attained to the magnificent. Some vases of other varieties foiled ihrouirb their contents being 100 thin or ico scattered. One or two vases were too monotonously rod. The experiment ol combining the colours of the King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra was tried, Inii the result was not fal if factory. In another variety. light blue and pink lints in a pale blue Iwwl presented a daring, not to «IV glaring, scheme, savouring rather of Ivi's'gurd n>»t!ictiiisn; than of wholesome al'l.

All vases (any foliage) of carnations were alike good. There were no bv-flowers oi biir.ders, but all were '.veil formed. A noticeable feature was Ihe number of tables for exhibition only. In tins section were two tables of beautiful pot plan's, nio.-.t dofily arranged. entered by ill' It. (lleudiuing and Mr Sargod respectively. In Mr Sartreod's exhibit the fine setting o! asparagus springeri was becomingly relieved with blue lobelia inllata. v.'ith begonias. Willi fuchsias, and with pelargoniums. 'I'll-- drooped edging cf asparagus was most efl'eclive.

Maidenliir fern, dark-leaved cannas. and ihe delicok'iy-mnvl.vd cnladium with its broad semi-transparent leaves, were among the features of Mr >>'endining's exhibit. There were also a wel|.*.,dourod colons with its boanlifuily-variagated leaves, and a line specimen of ihe Leather Trumpet. For the benefit of unbotanical readers it may be mentioned that the splendid specimen of Indian nettle shown possesses among other advantages that of being stiugless.

The display of cut flowers came in for a good deal of admiration. Mr J. ('. Thomson (president (d Ihe society) was represented by a number of hardy, useful, garden flowers. ros"s. sweel peas. Scabious, peroneal llax. and perennial sweel peas. TCv .Judge Ward's exhibit included roses, sweet peas, clematis, and yjusies set in a green groundwork of moss, liolli lables were effectively set up.

The floral decorations were better than usual. Messrs Wilson and M'Xab. of the Fairfield Nurseries, showed a nice bouquet of carnations, an anchor of stocks and ulemalis. a horseshoe of slocks, and a cross of

roses, sweet peas, ami while heather. Anion" flowers ill vases wore Californian poppy] clematis, and oleander.

Messrs Ilowdc.'i and Montcrief's exhibit showed what a wonderful range of variety is really possible. The result of sowing mixed carnation seed was convincing, and there seemed lo be much more vigour in the varieties.

Mr S. Cousins, of St. Clair, had a nice fresh lot of roses in good colour. Especially striking was the superb lint of his single Hiawatha, a rambler rose, and an evergreen. Another beauty was the Dorothy Perkins, a double rose. Altogether it was an excellent collection of garden and decorafive roses, a!!, by tlie way, grown at Mosgiel. Mr Cousins also showed a number of (paper-collared) carnations for exhibition only, including the Enchantress (American)) and Mrs U. Burnett (Guernsey). Among his new varieties were the crimson (Helen" Countess of Radnor), lavender (Duchess ot Wellington), yellow and purple (Henry Goughj, heliotrope (Miss Allis), crimson (Robert Craig), and a fancy carnation (Charm). The Enchantress and Mrs 11. Burnett have been blooming since last March.

Mr D. Tannoek was responsible for Ihe corporation table, which, bordered with sprigs of the single type of W'icliuriana rose, looked most, effective with hardy blooms suitable for gardens or house decoration. There were Iceland poppies, Shirley poppies, tulip poppies, coreopsis, snapdragons, and French marigolds, set up with an undergrowth of fern.

There was nothing very remarkable about the fuchsias or begonias, which will bo stronger at the next, show.

Some excellent, work had evidently been put into the decorated tables, of which there were three. Tho maximum number of points obtainable was 18, and tin's was scored by Miss Hislop, whose blind of carnations and coloured leaves set each other off with charming; cffect.

Miss Crewe's scheme consisted of carnations, maidenhair fern, asparagus fern, and gvpsophla, and scored second place with 17 points. >.

The Dorothy Perkins rose formed the central feature of a nice table shown by Mrs 11. A. LeCren, of Mornington, for exhibition only.

Mr riainnl's ciisploy of vegetables showed what it. is possible lo derive from a simdc Sim!™. His potatoes and turnips wore especially good. Oilier exhibitors in (liis section faileil through nttemptinn- to ohsc rhubarb as a. vegetable. A vegetable 1)9 a fruit, bill; a fruit enn never be 'a vegetable. As to what is and what is not, a vegetable judges have drawn a hard and fast nile, and only that which is served at In bio with meat can be so classod. Exhibitors who included rhubarb therefore lost marks. Some line peaches were shown bv Mrs Kennedy, of TCoekyside.

The show is what experts call a. " full" one. There was nothing weedy, skimpy or impoverished about it. The attendance both in the afternoon and evening was-'ood' and Iho undtitudo noted with 'satisfaction that the idea of afternoon t.«a has been resuscitated. Though crowded for room at I lie eleventh hour, the arrangements were excellent, and reflected great credit 011 all concerned, and especially 011 the secretary, Ml' David Laniach, and his able assistant' Miss Lantech. ' .PRIZE LIST. Plants in Flower, Grown in Pots, aad XflllMxl. Tv.-O fuchsias (open).—Gee. Harvey 1, R. Glendining 2. Thrsc tuberous-rooted begonias, sim'lc varieties (open).—Geo. liarvey 1. Tlir-ie .tuberous-rooted bogunias, double varieties (open).—Geo. Harvey 1. Hanging basket (open).—Geo. Harvey 1 and i Foliage Plants, Grown in Pots, and Earned. Six ferns Aduaniuni varieties (open),—R, Glemlimng 1 and 2. Cli'.nupion Competition in Carnations. Iwolve carnations (Picotees allowed), varieties. three blooms of each, to bo showu in glasses or vases (opcn).-S. Cousins 1, J, Aorr.Mii 2.

Twelve carnations, varieties in four vases (amateur).—Dr Sutherland 1, G. Simmons 2. Six folfs, varieties, in two vases (open).— S. Cousins 1, Dr Sntherlftiid 2. Six yellow grounds, varieties, in two vases (open).—Dr Sutherland 1.

Six fancies, varieties, in two vases (open). —S. Cousins 1, Dr Sutherland 2. Twelve picotees, varieties, in lour vases (open).—S. Cousins 1.

Six picoiOss, varieties, in two vases (amutsur).—D. Sutherland 1.

Best A'ew ZealujKl-nii-cd needling- carnaiwn (open).—S. Cousins 1 and 2. Cut 1' lowers. Oilier than Carnation'. IVi'lvo rc.se. varieties, if.p. and il T (open).—S. Cousins ], E. E. Clowes ° Six rcses. varieties, lI.P. and H.T. (open). K. ]•], CJowos I, J- 1 . Wu-ilo 2.

Eighteen vases sweet peas, varieties I*2 stems of eiif.li (open).-Mrs .Milno 1, ii! 1L Heal '2.

Xiiie sweet peas, varieties. 12 stems of each, in glasses or vases (iiiir.ilcnr).-ilrs J Morgan ], .Mrs D. Edwin Booth 2

Decorative and Moral Work. Bowl of carnations, one variety, any foliage (o]ien).—Mrs E. A. Home I 1, Miss A •M'Tntyre 2. JSowl of carnations, mixed, any folia™ _"''en).—Miss W. Hislop 1, Mrs K. A. llnmel Q wife of carnatio'is. one variety, anv f.o! : a»e ((men).—Miss A. M'liitvre I,' lira li a llaiuel 2. Vatc of carnations, mixed, any foliage to pen).—Miss 11. Dagger 1, ilrs 11. Sanders Basiel- of carnation?, mixed, any foliage (open).—Mi»s A. M'lntyic 2, Bowl of liugosa roses, owji folia-go (open). —Mrs !•,. A. Itamel 2. Vase of sweet peas, any foliage (open).— Jllss M. Dogger 1 olid 2. Louquet or carnation.?, shower (open).— Hiss A. M lutj-re 1, .Mrs E. A. Ilamel 2. lsWe dccoriation (7 x •!). r:irraticns anj any fo.iage (open).—Miss \\\ Hislop 1, JK SS Crow 2. iiVegetables. Collection of vagetables, 12 varieties (open), -h. A Ilamel 1, I{. Glciidining 2, J li Every h.c. " The 1 judges wore Carnations, Mr J , 'in'®.; oilier cut (lowers, Mr J, Honnic; decorative and floral work, .Miss Black; xepfotables ami pot plants, Mr George \vard. ° Xiie Drake Orchestra played selections in tlic evening.