HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

Otago Witness, Issue 3244, 17 May 1916, Page 15

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

THE WINTER SHOW. The Winter Show of the Dunedin Horticultural Society wits opened in the Art Gallery Hall on tho 10th. The fact that the display is broken into two parts by the dividing wall takes away from tho comprehensive effect that used to be obtained in the Garrison Hall, but as against this drawback there is a greatly increased lighting effect, showing up tho colour and brilliancy of the exhibits much better. There is an abundance of material in uxeiy section, and few of the exhibits show real want of quality. For the most part everything is well grown, the colour is excellent, and there is a great freedom from blemishes. This, of course, is due to the favourable season we have had, no frost, very little rain, and almost a complete absence of high winds. A particularly noticeable feature is the brilliancy of the autumn-tinted foliage, combining admirably with tho chrysanthemums for decorative work. The display of fruit is remarkable, and backed by tho pictures on the walls and set off by the decorated tables, makes a splendid exhibition in itself. The show as a whole certainly forms one of the best that Dunedin has enjoyed in recent years. The championship competition in chrysanthemums was won by Mr .E. A. Ilamel, of Maori Hill. His collection is remarkable for tho number of novelties it contains, whereas that of Mrs Sidey. who came second, contains mostly the better known and well-tried varieties. It is, however, a fine exhibit, and has won great admiration. The casual observer might reasonably have placed it first on account of the cleanness, colour, and freshness of tho blooms. Mr Hamel staged Mrs R. C. Pulling, White Australia. Mauve Beauty, Mendou, Mrs Lloyd Wigg, G. Drabble, W. Turner, Mrs Whaler, Golden Drabble, Mrs Perry, Mrs H. J. Jones, Marquis of Northampton, Lady Talbot. IT. E. Converse, Daily Mail, Undaunted, Annie Angus, and Miss D. M:mton. Mrs Sidey's exhibit comprises W. Turner, Lady Talbot, S. T. Wright, Doris Manton. Amelia. Rose Pockett. F. S. Vallis, Mrs G. C. Kelly, Beatrice May, Mrs W. E. Tricker, Mrs R. Luxford, Meliuda Barrett, Mendon, Algernon Davis, Miss Alice Finch, Hon. Mrs Lotos, Miss D. Oliver, and Master David. The award was niado on points, Mr Hamel receiving 134J>, and Mrs Sidey 120. The champion bloom was awarded to the Mrs R. 0. Pulling in Mr Hamel's collection. It is noteworthy that at both the Christchurch and Auckland show this year the championship was secured by a similar bloom, Mr Hamel thus performing what cricketers term "tho hat trick." The next class, the six vases of chrysanthemums, saw tho positions of Mr Hamel and Mrs Sidey reversed. Mrs Sidey showed Algernon Davis, Miss Alice Finch, Mrs R. Luxford, Beatrice May, Master David, and Melinda Barrett. The open competition as a whole has brought forward a large number of really excellent blooms, bearing evidence of careful culture extending oyer a long period. In the six Japanese varieties' class, Mrs Sidey has a fine Amelie and F. S. ValHs, quite as good as those on the championship table. The amateur classes are also responsible for some good specimens of quite a number of varieties. The championship was won by Mr W. M. Beal, whoso best blooms are Ladv Talbot, Hon. Mrs Lotes, and Mrs Gilbert"Drabble. Mrs John Gault has a couple of very fine Daisys, one in class 34 and another in class 33. An outstanding feature is the display made by Mr John Wilson, of Waitati. Mr Wilson is a new exhibitor, and large and bright as tho blooms are they were grown entirely in the open, not even brought under glass to finish. Kara Dow is particularly fino and bright, and F. S. Vallis and W. Turner are noteworthy. There are three tables in the chrysanthemum competition, one amateur ancl two in the open class. All are worthy of tho show. In tho decorative classes of the show competition was keen, and the: skill and taste shown were of a high order. There wore three entries for the table with autumn tints and berries no flowers, and the first prize went to Miss A. M. MTntyre, of Mornington, for an arrangement of Japanese maples, native birch, vine leaves, trails of Virginian creeper, fruit _ of the clematis, and grasses and ferns. Miss Martin, of Roslyn, has a neat table with Japanese maple, bc-rberis, rhus, amelanchior, and Virginian creeper. Tho third table contains a good deal of green; it however, a very artistic arrangement. There are three other tables, forming the class chrysanthemums and any foliage. Here the first place has been awarded to Miss Martin, with Miss Brown, of Maori Hill, second, and Miss Melville highly commended. The baskets of chrysanthemums form a nice feature. In the open class Mrs E. A. Hamel came first and second, with Mrs Jas. Johnson highly commended. An unplaced basket by Miss Brown, however, will be preferred by many to any of the other entries, a fino study in crimson, brown, and gold. The first award for the amateur basket went to Miss Martin for a bright arrangement, not bunched up, but gracefully put together, and with tho ribbon and foliage matching well. In the open bowl class, Mrs H. T. Trevcna came first, with Mrs E. A. Hamel second, and Mrs Johnson third. The size of tho blooms seemed in this case to be an advantage, showing that after all big blooms, if artistically treated in large bowls can be made very effective. The first award is not on the samo tablo as the others, and it would be advisable were it shifted and placed there. In the epergnes, Mrs Trevcna has a very fino picco of work. The second place has been awarded to a vastly different typo of decoration, a clever combination which serves to show that it might be advisable to have a separate competition for small blooms as against the bigger sorts. There is nob a point, of similarity between tho two placed entries, farther "than that they are in an cpergne. A tablo of ferns exhibited by Mrs Robinson in the pot plants section is a good

feature, tho ferns being of a nice colour, clean and fresh, with a considerable nu.mber of varieties. Although not numerous, thero are some nice specimens forward in the vegetable classes. One of the features are the giant leeks exhibited by Mr Robt. Craig, of Benhar. Mr D. Martin, of Beaumont, has a couple of remarkable collection of potatoes forward, all sizes, shapes, and colours being apparently included. He gained first and second award. The school children's vegetable garden competition resulted in a collection from Forbury—mainly magnificent car*rots. parsnips, turnips, and onions—being placed first, with Allan Harraway, of Benhax, second. Thero is also a nice entry from Thomas Park, of Benhar. Tho Beaumont School. with 150 varieties (160 points) gained the first award for collection of seeds. Coa Earland, of Mornington, with 45 well-chosen varieties, was placed second. Other exhibitors were Waitati. Felsio Willocks (Benhar , and Millicent Dean. The fruit, as already stated, forms a remarkable feature, bearing witness to the rapid growth of tho industry in the province. Each show sees an advance, and this year it is a pronounced one. The general quality of the apples is so high that it is difficult to make comparisons, and the judges had a severe task in arriving at their awards. In tho big collection for Otago growers, Mr Martin secured first place with a good margin from tho Benholm Orchard Company and Tonkin's trustees, the second and third placewinners. It was as good an exhibit as has been made here, whether as regards quantity, quality, colour, or variety. There are rather many duplicates in the Benholm Orchard Company's exhibit, ancl it is not up to the first collection in colour or the number of good varieties. In the collections of three dessert apples, the colour is again remarkable. There were 14 entries. Mr D. Martin (Beaumont) was placed first, with Tonkin's trustees second, and Mr John Man (Oamaru) third. Mr Martin's collection shows some fine Jonathans. Cox's Orange Pippin, ancl Spitzbergen. Tonkin's trustees' exhibit is notable for Delicious. Jonathans w T ore greatly in evidence all through the display, nearly every orowcr making them a feature. Thero wore 23 entrants in the one variety dessert class. Mr Martin came first, with Mr J. L. Davidson (Clyde) second, and Mr Man third. A noticeable point is the size of tho fruit. This is due in some measure to its being taken from young trees, these yielding bigger fruit than the more mature, but not. in tho opinion of orchardists. of such good quality. Other prominent winners in the apple sections were Messrs Dean and G. M. Marshall. The competition for export packing resulted in Tonkin's trustees being placed first and second for both dessert and cooking apples, with the Benholm Orchard Company third in dessert, and Mr G. M. Marshall third in cooking. Considerable difference of opinion, however, has boon expressed as to whether the awards .ire in accordance with the lines taken bv Government experts in regard to "bulge." Some good pears are on view, and a few granos; also some magnificent quinces Tho judges were as follow: —Pot plants, Mr A. H. Hart: chrysanthemums. Mr D. Wall; floral ancl decorative. Miss Reid: fruit. Messrs Jas. Freeman and IT. Clark (Green Island): vegetables, Mr A. Youngson. Thero is the inevitable patriotic effort, a stand for the sale of flowers, fruit, and produce, in charge of a hand of energetic ladies. The attendance in tho afternoon was rroocl. and in the evening it was large. Music was provided bv Death's Band. The show will be open this afternoon and evening.