HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2818, 18 March 1908, Page 10

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

THE AUTUMN SHOW. The Dunedin Horticultural Society's autumn show, held on the 11th inst. at the Garrison Hall, exceeded expectations as regards display, the excellence of the duhlias, the profusion of pot plants, and the general decorative effect. Though essentially a dahlia show, competition was wonderfully keen in sweet peas. Twenty-four different varieties— all remarkable — were on view, and it was evident that the contest for the championship medal had taken considerable skill and forethought. The display of cactus dahlias was very strong. The arrangement left nothing to be desired, and the quality of the specimens seeded almost beyond criticism. There was the usual rivalry between Mr Glendining and Mr Duncan, the champion fern-growers, and their exhib'ts formed centres of attraction in themselves, and showed off well in their floor space in the centre of tho hall. Another prominent feature of the show was formed by the fruit and vegetables. For instance, there were no les3 than eight dishes of fine plums in one competition. The comijetition for fruitgrowers of Central Otago was productive of a highly creditable display, and formed an instructive object lesson of what can be grown in the district men tioncd. JTlie btble for vegetables extended <he entire length of the hall, and even then t!ie exhibit* tlicreon appeared to be rather crowded. The front of the stage was devoted to fruit, to which some fine purple bunches of hothouse grapes ad<led lustre. The tables on which the champion sweel pea competition exhibits were arranged measured 28ft by sft, and the delicate tints, lights, and shade 3 made quite a little flower show by themselves. There were 'many brilliant specimens of gladioli, and here again the competition waa satisfactory. Ferns are always good at, this season, and the exhibits in this class showed no retrocession from the high standard of former yeais. Double dahliae were complete and convincing. The decorative work was most artistic, and it seems probable that the "ladies of Dunedin excel in this direction, which is certainly a branch of the fine arts. Tho competition in decorative work did not seem to be «> strong as usual, possibly becaupe of lack of space. The Horticultural Society is usually troubled on that point, and finds it difficult to get a hall sufficiently lar^e for its very numerous exhibits. Though a. pretty enouorh spectacle by day. the flower show looked at ita best dur•nfif the ovoningj lender artificial light.* The Drake Oiehestra was in attendance and player) ~:omc pood selections. The weather interfered with the attendance during the ,

day, but the hall niied and refilled witfi admiring spectators during the eveningv The tea rooms were nicely decorated andl well served under the management of th« lady members of committee — Mrs Sv Solomon, Mrs Jos. M'George, Mrs T. K?» Sidey, Mts P. Duncan, Mrs W. A. Moore> Miss Glendining, and Miss Mitchell assisted by Misses Ro3S, Nisbet, Inglis, and Molliaon (2).