KEEN HORTICULTURIST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21244, 27 January 1931, Page 6

KEEN HORTICULTURIST.

Visitors to Port Chalnlers should avail themselves of the to visit the garden of Mr J. Hood, in Mount street, where a magnificent display ot sweet peas and other blooms greet the eye. Known as a very keen horticulturist, Mr Hood has every reason to be proud of his display. He has been a lover of flowers since boyhood. . The location of ma garden is a section belonging to Mr BMason. The grpund was almost a wilderness before Mr Hood removed the house owned by Mr Mason. The combined efforts of the two men turned , a section covered with weeds and rubbish into a fairy garden, and a profusion of blooms has been the result every season. Mr Hood resided in the Riverton district for 48 years. In* addition to being a lover of flowers, he is a musician of ability, and was a member of the Riverton Brass Band for many years. He hos been a resident of Port Chalmers for nine years. Blooms grown by Mr Hood when he resided at Riverton were i exhibited at shows in many towns in the Southland, Otago, and South Canterbury districts. Mr Hood was a member of the Hiverton Horticultural Society for many years. His love for horticulture has always been second nature with him. Aoout 32 years ago he and a few other enthusiasts founded the Riverton Horticultural Show. At a gathering tendered to Mr Hood before he left Riverton for Port Chalmers one of the speakers said that Mr Hoods one object in life was the study of horticulture. His. heart and soul wasin the work, and no one could study the growth and development of flowers without recognising that some great power was hidden therein. Mr Hood Km been most successful as an exhibitor of flowers. He is the winner of over 1000 prizes. He has gained first prizes for blooms exhibited as far north as Timaru. While being one of the founders of the Riverton Horticultural Show, he was one of the largest exhibitors. He has always been a keen gardener, and his cultivation of flowers is known far and wide.