CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOW.

Otago Witness, Issue 2202, 14 May 1896, Page 8

CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOW.

The Dunedin Horticultural Soeiefcy'H Chrysanthemum Show, which, was held in the Garrison Hall on the 6lh, suffered iv som« respects by compamon with previous shows — that is to s*y, what might have bean expected to ba the chief feature of the exhibitioa was not so good as on former occasions. This may be in a me viure at tributcd to the weather, which has not been' very favourable of Ute to the growth of chrysanthemums. Bur, although the display of theiAdowers was not so good as it might have been, it was well worth seeing, there being a number of remarkably fine chrysan^houiums bath of the Japanese and iucurved varieties among the exhibits. There was alao an excellent display of fruit and vegetables. The most noticeable falling off was in the pot phnte. In this section of the nho« there was sb'olutely no competition, aud the judges thought, fiat not a single exhibit among the chryaan'.hoiiiuim was worthy of a first prize. On the whole we think they were right ; but exception might be fcakeu to their decision in the cisc of the collection of chrysanthemum 1 ! in pots and out blooms showu by Mr Ings. It is true (hut his pot pUuts were not ve^y good specimens cf their kind, -but the collection as a whole was nob unworthy of a firtt pr'za. It may be raid here that a good deal of dissatisfaction was expressed with teg^rJ to the judging of the chryjanthetnuaas, and paittcula r ly so in the case of the bloom competition for the society's silver challenge cup for 12 incurved and 12 Japunfsa kinds. Tuere we«e three competitors tor the cup, which was awarded to Mr O. Grave, the other exhibitor* being Mettvi J. Rendol and J. lugs, who were placed second and third respectively. There was not much to choose between the exhibits of the two last-mentiened grower*, but a number of experts were strongly of opinion that either of their collections wer« d*sorving of being placed before the one whiqh secured the cup. Two of the bestof the Japane*"*- kind in Mr Graves collection wore "Vivian Morel" and "Pride of . M&<!f> rd" ; while "Baron Hirsch" and " Violet Tomlin " were the pick of the incurved blooms. In Mr J. Ridel's collection ••Charles Davis" and "VivUn Motel" were the best of the J/ps, aud "Colouel W. B. Smith," "Baron Hirsch," and " Lord Wolseley " th« choicest of the incurved vatkties. Some very beautiful b'oonis were to be seen in each collection. Chrysanthemums of the iucurved kind were exhibited in gte*t perfection by Mess's J. Ings, J. Munden, and O G<"ava ; while Messrs Howdeu and Moncritff, J. Ingg, and J. Mnnden had on view some fine specimens of Jsps. Among the cut blooms were noticeable a number of n*w kind*, including a nios wMie Japanese flower shown by Mr J. logs, oni named " Madame Therese Ray." There were only two competitors for tho table decoration of chrysanthemums — viz., Miss A. G. Roberts and Messts Howd?-n and MoncritfiE. The. judges were Mesdames Sinclair Thomson, L Ferguson and F. Og*ton, who awarded the first prize to the table decorated by Miss Roberts. Tbis table <?er tatinly looked very pretty, btiug decked ch'efly with yellow chrysanthemums and maidenhair fern. There was a large silver bowl-sh»pcd vase in the ceutre filled with flowers, aud candelabra near each end, the caudles being covered with yellow paper shades to match tbe flowers.

Ai was before iodicated, there was a splendid display of fruit and vegetables. All kiuds of vegetables in season were to ba seen, grown to perfection, while there w*s a vsry Urge show of fruit, the exhibit* of apples being especially numerous. Much of the fruifc, too, wao of excellent quality, some very fine pears, apples, and grapes being on view.

Conspicuous amoug the things for exhibition only wai a tahln, exhibited by Messrs' Ho wdc-n and Moucrieff, containing chrysanthemums in pots, cut blooms, maiden hair fern*, and a couple of nica shower posies. The same firm also exhibited a table containing over 50 varieties of apples, taken from two-year-old trees grown at their nursery at Opoho, as well as a few varieties of pears. Mrs A. Smith, florist, showed ft beautiful white floral wreath, m ide mainly of chrysanthemums. Mes*ra Nimrao and Blair had on view about 50 different varieties of apples and several varieties of potatoes, including a new variesy named " Richard Seddon." They also exhibited 16 varieties of filbert nuts. Mr C. Sonntag showed over 50 varieties of apples grown at the Brockvilte Nursery, and several varieties of the came fruit grown by Lye Bow, of Butcher's Gully, were also exhibited, Mr J. H. Every bad on view some flue potatoes, and Mr George Edwards a large and fine display of vegetables. Mr O. Grave, of C&versham, exhibited a tray of nice chrysanthemums of the incurved and Japanese kinds, and Mr H. Adam showed some fine Jape.

In the pot plant section of the show, it should be mentioned two nice collections of ferns were Bhown by Messrs R. Olendining and F. Whinam,