FLOWER-SHOW.

Otago Witness, Issue 2493, 25 December 1901, Page 10

FLOWER-SHOW.

The summer show of the Dunedin Horti- I cultural Society, held in the Agricultural ' Hall on Wednesday last, 18th iii3t-, was not- , produced under very propitious circumBlafness m so far. as the principal factor to success was concerned. The weather— th*t most treacherous of all our -beat friends — has for some weeks past been ont of temper j with us altogether. The summer heat and • shine have been of -the scantiest— either a \ cold, raw atmosphere, drying winds, * lack -of ~ superfluity of moisture, or a continual state of cloudland have been the prevailing features. Old Father Sun has been almost obscured, and the remark almost justified that the promise of the "bow in the clouds, ' made after Noah's deluge, was for a time forgotten or for a time suspended. The days pre- . ceding the show- passed "in thunder, lightning, and in raiii''' quite out of keeping with .j natuial requirements, the sun omitting to give a blink of an hour or two on end. Even show day itself opened adversely— j dull, dazzling, or ' seating— and only after ( midday showing some attractiveness unpeople to go out of doors without sufficient , reason. Duriug the afternoon and evening hostilities were suspended, a truce proclaimed and gladly accepted. In- ether resneccs the society were most fortunate, the Agricultural Hall and its annexes affording ample accommodation for a largo attendaiicp. The arrangements of the table-, and the order and distribution of the exhibit.- we»e w*ll carried out; the adornments timplp and effective, and not too nunirrou--. The- mu->ic, vocal and instrumental, left nothing to be desired, and the catering for the palat" reflected great credit on the ladie, piovidiug and the- obliging attendants. Finally, the- -visitors were nuniPiuu!. ami. let it' be hoped, the. .results «atUfactory to the committee. The obliging, attentive, "and enthusiastic secretary carried the weight laid on his shoulders with a pleaeantues* well worthy of emulation, -Mr Every on this occasion almost exceeding his former •elf. , „ To make suggestions •o- suggest alteration/ Jnay be an easy matter. Our community is full of experimentalist*— meu of fade, who would 3iibvert the whole coume of Nature, and reconstruct on more approved principles This is far beyond their power, "judging by what they have done, or attempted, with matters within their grasp. Bunyan's "worldly-wise man" is a largo element. \void ; ng this rock of disaster, no rigid criticism will be indulged in, a general view of the whole alone being taken. To' say the exhibition wn.s a .great success would be wrong 1 . ' The weather was the principal pre- '" ventive against it. A great many would-be competitors' were, by its frequent sudden changes, completely debarred from placing a fair exhibit. Outsiders who had entered, or promised, were not forth-coming, i=o the collection was not so large as was expected. Nor could any of the select items of superior merit attain the title bestowed by the Royal Horticultural Society— 'superb "—the highest step in the ladder. On the whole, however, the show- was well worthy of high commendation, the preferred blooms and plants being of rare excellence, and a willing endorsement is given to the decisions of the judges, who gave careful and minute attentioiT to the points of merit in each entry. It is a matter of astonishment that so few of- our wealthier residents who have conservatories, hot and gieenhouses, take sa little interest in encouraging our society, and do not more largely contribute, either by entering for competition or exhibition only Mr Glendining stands in the first rank Hi the honoured category of enthusiastic supporters, and his efforts are, of course, ablj seconded by the judicious and unflagging ,in terest of his gaidener, Mr Clark. Remove his collection, from the show, and its attrac

a most decisive decline. Whether from want of taste, interest, or out of unwillingness to j. bear the experts© of preparation and continuous attention, the number of sup- L porters in this department is afc s a low ebb. * Formerly there were c a, goodly number of philoflorists, whose heart g was in their work, asid out of their abund-ance-were ready and willing to contribute as l benefactors to the committee. To our re- a gret, one or two who could be named have 1 to us and all terrene affairs said faxewe-11. 1 Those who have not regular houses in. . j which to coax and protect their favourites are certainly, with such weather as has been r experienced, placed at a great "disadvantage. They should not be disheartened. Look at t some of our old chrysanthemum growers how \ they rigged tip calico as a covering for their much-loved pets, A similar course might with advantage .be pursued with roses, which, to produce superior flowers must be kept i i well in-hand as well as judiciously fed. They } could be kept in a small space, or in pots i for removing, and a temporary covering placed over them. I ' It is with regret it is recorded that the : * summer show was not a financial success, j the very numerous other popular attrae- ' tiona being the principal cause. j * I. M. I. I