HORTICULTURAL SHOW.

Otago Witness, Issue 2429, 3 October 1900, Page 8

HORTICULTURAL SHOW.

The Dunedin Horticultural Society's Spring show, which was opened in the Agricultural Hall on Wednesday, is undoubtedly the finest show ever held in Dunedin at ibis season of the year, and, in the opinion of many, there has never been anything to equal it in New Zealand. The exhibits are much more numerous than usual, and they are on jhe whole staged in perfect ordei. In every Section of the show there has been an increase in the number of entries as compared with last year. The entries in bouquets, etc., have increased from 29~t0 4-U, pot plants from 16 to. 43, -cut flowers from 49 to 56, and narcissi from 47 to 65. The great feature of the Bhow is the splendid display of narcissi. Mr 'A. Wilson exhibits-a fine collection of nearly 50 pot plants, this being the first time that narcissi have been shown here grown in that ■way. Among the choicest of the collection are Colleen Bawn, Mary Anderson, King of Spain, and Madam Plemp — all beautiful specimens. A distinct novelty is shown at the same table in the shape of two pots-- of

1 Fritillaria meleagris. Mr "Wilson also exhibits a table of cut narcissi, amongst which are several novelties, including Marvel, Sunset, and the rare Cerntius plenus. The collection is shown in splendid order. But the most interesting exhibit from a grower's point of view is' Mr Wilson's collection of seedlings in flower. They comprise over 35 varieties of daffodils, which were raised from 'seed hybridised by Mr Wiison. " Probably these are the first seedlings that have flowered' in the "colony, and it is interesting to note that they have bloomed in the sixth year from the sowing -of the- seed. Mr Wilson applied for a certificate d£-' merit for this collection, 'and,' upon the recommendation of a committee^ consisting of. Messrs J. E. W. ISllis (of Lawrence), W. Pickup (of Waikouaiti), J. G&bbie (of Oamaru), F. Spears, and T. West, it was decided that a certificate bo granted. In making their recommendation, the committee remarked that the collection was an extremely valuable one, and that several of the specimen* were worthy of being named. The same committee also recommended the granting of a certificate to Mr Wilson for the collection of narcissi in pots shown by him. All his collections were for exhibition only, and not for competition. Coming now to the daffodils sent 'in 'for 1 competition, there are- four entries for the I special competition for Barr and. Son's I silver cup, which ha 3 been given for the first I time this year. Tho exhibits are all of great merit, but Mr F. Bigga, of Christehuroh, bwho won a cup in bis own city last week for ' narcissi, was lucky enough to carry of? the chief prize- here. Although his collection is a very fine oiie, some of the blooms shown by I him certainly seem past their best. This, j however, may be due to the long journey. j Some of the most noticeable varieties in tho ! collection are Katherine Spurrell, Queen of !' Spain, Karoline Kroom, and Mrs J. B. M. , Camm. v Mr A. Hart, of Lawrence, took 'the second prize with a very nice stand, which included the following conspicuous varieties : Mrs Barton, Madam Plemp, Sharman Crawford, and Glory of Leyden. Mr A. Marshall, , who wae placed third, shows a collection in I good order, the best of the blooms being Sen- ' cation, Barri conspicuus, and Mary Anderson . , Tho three placed exhibits are pretty even in point of quality, and the judges must have had some diiticuliy in choosing between them. For a collection of narcissi of not less than six ; varieties, Mr J. Gf. , Davis, a. Christchurch ' exhibitor, is easily first with about 200 varieties. ~ Considering that the show is .rather late for Christchurch growers, Mr Davis makes a remarkably fine display.- As for good variej ties, their name is legion, but mention may be made of Glory of Leyden, J. B. M. Camm, King of Spain, and M. J. Barkeley. Mr A. Miller, of Mornington, took second prize with a nicely-grown collection. It does not, however, compare in point of size with that shown by Mr Davis. Among varieties in his stand are Triandrus ""pulchellus — a very neat little specimen, — Obvallaris maximus— a decidedly distinct variety, — and Alida — a hand- • some trumpet. The third prize fell to Messrs I Howden and Moncrieff, Mrs J. B. Camm, ! Flora Wilson, and Crown Princess being 1 among the best examples shown in their colI lection. The Royal Horticultural Society'? j bronze medal for eighteen narcissi was I awarded to Mr Davis, the most strikijig I blooms in his collection being Barri Orphee j and 'C. J. Backhouse. Mr R. Glendining ( came next with, some well-grown blooms, thej most choice of which were Barri conspicuus > and M. J. Barkeley. Mr Dpvis was again . victorious in the competition for twelve nari cissi, Messrs Howden and Moncrieff beingsecond. In. the amateur classes there is a very distinct improvement in tho blooms 1 shown this year. Som© nice specimens t being exhibited by Messrs J. R. Glover," E. A. [ Ham el, J. Dagger, E. J. Reeves, and Mrs iKemplen. , There is not much competition in pot plants, 1 there being only one or two entries in most of the classes: Mr R. Glendining has matters all his own way in the class for stove or greenhouse plants,- his exhibits including a free growing dendrobium, and a dark tea rose. The same exhibitor also shows three fine white azaleas in the open class. Mrs J. T. Wright, has on view half a dozen clean, well-flowered cineraria, and also three very fine calceolarias. ( Mrs Youngson exhibits a very fair camellia — . the only one si aged. Mr R. Glendining gains a first prize in the open class for a specimen plant with an anthurium, Mr V. Ireland getting a first in the amateur class with a good -specimen of Erica cayendishu. Mr Glendining shows some beautiful orchids, the winning , one being a nice specimen of Catteya, triana ( superba. The hyacinths are in capital condiI tion, although there are not many of them. There is only one exhibitor of Lily of the j "Valley, which is not much of a specimen. The auriculas are also of poor quality, but some very fair freesias are shown. In the way of foliage plants grown, in pots, some nice specimens are to be seen. Mr R. Giendining took first prize for a very fine , collection of ferns in the open class, showing a I good example of Adiantum, and an excellent r Davalia Nova Zealandia, as well as some other ' choice ferns. Mr P. G. Stewart, who got j first prize for hanging basket of fprne, also had a good collection, the ; pick of which were, perhaps, a Totlea Ky- ' meiiophy eloides, an Asplinium nidus, and a Strutheopteris germanica. Mr Glendining exj hibits as a specimen plant a cocoanut tree [ (Ooco^, nucifera), picked up by 'him in the j Islands. He also shows six fine foliage plants, j A conspicuous feature of the show is Mr 1 H. W. West's large and beautiful collection 'of heath?. It contains a great many different J" varieties, and is undoubtedly the largest and I finest exhibit of the kind ever seen in Dunedin. Mr A. Hart's table of plants is also jof "exceptional merit. It contains among a 1 choice collection of plants a number of ] beautiful azaleas, cinerarias, heaths, freesias, 1 a specimen of Primula obebniea, and some nice narcissi. Mr S. Cousins shoAvs a stand ' of geraniums containing a. number of beautiful varieties j and Mr Every has on vißw. a

collection of keeping apples which were picked last season and are still in good condition. Tho cut flowers and table decorations are exhibited in what is known as the machinery ha-U. The collection of cut flowers shown by Mr W. Hitchcock was very fine, and special mention should be made of some double tulips, two beautiful camelia blooms, and some capital narcissi and geraniums. Mr A. Hart exhibits some fine spikes of hyacinths, which are probably the best of their class in the show. An exhibit of considerable merit is staged by the children of the High street School in a very tasteful manner, and was recommended for a special prize. Some very tastefully-arranged baskets of flowers are shown, in wihch narcissi are largely predominant. Mrs J. Turner took first prize for two baskets, but it is difficult to see in what way they were superior to Mrs Smith's exhibit, which- was placed second. In the competition for. table decoration (for dessert) there were only two entries, arid Miss E. M'Lean Mas awarded first prize, but many, think that Miss Glendinning's exhibit was immeasurably superior in every respect. One of tho simplest and yet most effectively decorated tables is that exhibited by Miss Beatrice Brown. It was deservedly awarded a first prize in the class for luncheon table

dee&ration

The Dunedin Horticultural Society's spring show was again very well attended on Thursday, "and' the P>la'ck Family contributed a number of pleasing musical selections at intervals during the afternoon and evening. A first class certificate of nierit was awarded to" 'Mr H. M. "West, of the Hawthorn Nurseries, North-East alley, for the exceptionally fine table of' heaths exhibited by him. In accordance with the reco'mmeudati6n made by the Certifying Committee on the previous day, first class certificates of merit were also awarded to Mr A. "Wilson for his exhibits of narcissi in pots and seedling narcissi. The committee picked out the finest and rrost marked of the trumpet-shaped blooms among the seedling- narcissi, and named it Captain Harvey, after the officer of the fourth contingent, wlio lost his life in South Africa. The name was submitted to the committee by Mr Wilaop, rector of the Boys' High School, of which the late Captain Harvey was an ex-pupil. The exhibits of narcissi forwarded by Mr Davis, of Christchurch, it should be mentioned, were staged by Mr Moritzson, and, as the exhibits wore very numerous, it required a great deal of time and trouble to put them in order. The committee, and especially the president of the society (Mr Moritzson) and the secretary (Mr Every).' are entitled to a word of praise for the energetic manner in which they have worked in connection with the show, and they are to be congratulated upon the success of their efforts.