DUNEDIN GARDENING CLUB

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22137, 15 December 1933, Page 3

DUNEDIN GARDENING CLUB

ADDRESS BY MR D. TANNOCK. The Gardening Club held its last meeting for 1933 on Tuesday evening, when there was a good attendance. The president (Mr F. H. Hollingworth.) was in the chair. Mr D. Tannock spoke on his impressions of the horticultural shows in the Homeland, with special reference to the mode of exhibiting roses. The- main horticultural shows were under the Royal Horticultural Society, such as the Chelsea Show, held in the summer, and the Olympia, in the autumn. These show's were run on the highest grade and were attended by royalty, and large numbers of the aristocracy, and were an indication of the highest in horticulture as well as fashions. In addition to these large shows the committee of the Royal Horticultural Society held fortnightly meetings at which w’ere exhibited all kinds of plants, flowers and novelties. Special committees were set up to deal with and adjudicate on these exhibits and to award gold or silver medals, or awards of merit, as in their opinion the exhibit warranted. In some eases they selected plants for the trial grounds. These were gx-own at Wisely and the committee inspected them from time to time and awards were\ given. , At the shows conferences were arranged and at these lectures were given and exhibitions were held. At one of these Mr Tannock had the pleasure of attending the' Lily Conference, where lectures were given on .the various aspects of lily culture and also exhibits showing the various stages of cultivation. He also attended a talking picture on the cultivation of the sweet pea, where every detail was shown and explained from the planting of the seed to the gathering of the flowers. In addition to these show’s big provincial shows were held in the large centres. These shows were mostly held in tents. The Southport Show was the largest in Europe, and was run by the Southport Corporation, which expended £SOOO in prizes in addition to presenting many valuable cups, medals, and trophies. Special trains were run and the attendance is very large. The cost of admission on the first opening was seven shillings and sixpence, decreasing as the show proceeded. At all the big shows the trade exhibits were very large and comprehensive and they w’ere no doubt the draw for the public. The small competitions were quite a secondary matter. In the exhibition of roses they had to a great extent got away from the stiff show board style, and exhibited them in a more artistic manner by setting them up in baskets with rose foliage. These baskets were of various sizes and shapes, some to hold, say, tw’elve, six, or three roses. The roses were placed in vases, and these vases are arranged in the baskets.

Mr Tannock had on exhibition some very fine roses, some of which were arranged in baskets to illustrate more fully the arrangement. These were very artistic, and much in advance of the old way. They were greatly admired by those present. Sweet-peas were exhibited in vases with all the blooms facing to the front. This was accomplished by having straws in the vases to hold the blooms in any position wanted. Mr Tannock also had on exhibition some fine spikes of delphinium to illustrate what the Delphinium Society w’as trying to get in delphiniums—namely, a shorter stem with a well developed head with the flowers wider spaced to show their individuality.

At the conclusion, on the motion of the president of the Horticultural Society (Mr James Nelson), Mr Tannock was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his interesting and instructive address. There were on exhibition by members some very fine roses and poppies.