HORTICULTURAL SHOWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1777, 12 December 1885, Page 3

HORTICULTURAL SHOWS.

SUMMER. Dunedin. —Dee. 17andl8. Balelutha. —January. Roslyn. —December. Taieri.—January. S. Suburban. —Jan. 15. AUTUMN. Oamaru. —March. Taieri. —March. Dunedin. —March 11 & 12. Balelutha. —March. Roslyn. —March. S. Suburban. —March 17 CHRYSANTHEMUM. Christchurch. —May. Dunedin. —May 13. Oamaru.—May. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. J. E.—The greatest enemy we have to contend against in the successful growth of pears is the spring frosts, and this is probably the cause ot your disappointment. When the tree is in bloom and a sharp frost occurs," particularly if it, is succeeded by cold rains, the pollen is destroyed, and, as a consequence, the fruit will not set. There are varieties ot the pear, however, which do not succeed at all in our climate, and the reason why has • not yet been discovered. Notably among these is the winter nelis. The character ifc receives from Dr Hogg is " one of the richest-flavoured pears. The tree forms a handsome small pyramid, is quite hardy, and an excellent bearer." It fulfils these conditions with us except as to the last. Each year our trees have a mass ot blossom, but we rarely succeed in getting halt a dozen pears off each tree. Perhaps your trees are of this variet3\ Astoh.—Some of the ilora of Australia are very showy and attrnctiv6. The waratah you mention is among the linesfc of them. There are several varieties, and although they cannot be called perfectly hardy plants are sufficiently so to be very well grown in Otngo. In some gardens round and in Dunedin we have seen some very fine specimens grown in the opsn garden. Whether they would succeed equally so at Lawrence ■« c can hardly say, but you might risk a trial, giving some protection in the event of a severe frost. A. A. —The price of sulphate of ammonia is fourpence per pound. Your quantity has been torwarded as requested.