DUNEDIN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3275, 20 December 1916, Page 8

DUNEDIN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The summer show, held under the direction and management of the Uunedin Horticultural Society, took place on the 13th in the Art Gallery Hall, and the exhibits, composed to a very large and almost exclusive extent of roses, were inspected and admired by a great many persoiis during the afternoon and evening. The season for roses has been an exceptionally good one. Somo of the roses shown have bloomed to perfection, but some were on the side of being too far advanced. Again, several blooms have suffered in consequence of late rainy weather. However, the show in the rose, and indeed in the minor departments, was an exceedingly good one. A gentleman, who is no mean judge, speaking after a visit to the Wellington show, made some comparisons between the blooms of the north and those of the south, to the decided advantage of the latter. He said the superiority of the colour of the flowers at the Dunedin show r was most conspicuous. In the amateur section for roses Mr A. Gilland, who exhibited for the first time, came a good second for 12 blooms. The flowers were of exceptional merit, and special mention may be made of the specimens of Mrs R, D. M'Clure (approaching very nearly to perfection in form, colour, and substance), Queen of Spain, Mrs Coxhead. Morcella, and Earl of Warwick. Mr A. G. Robertson's collection was regarded as superior, and containing many magnificent blooms, was placed first. Included in Mr Robertson's collection were a Betty of exceptional colour, and an extremely fine Captain Hayward. In his collection of six roses the same exhibitor had two blooms that must arrest attention. They were a Mrs David M. Klee and a Chateau do Clos Vougeot. The remaining classes in the amateur division were very well represented. In the champion competition for the best 12 roses, Mr R. Nichol's collection contained a particularly good Marquis de Cinitz and fine specimens of Mrs A. Reggiardo, Gloiro do ClaedanoGuieoisseau, and Liberty, the lastnamed being of good size, form, and colour. Mr A. R. Low, who took first prize—there were only two exhibitors —had a splendid collection, included in which was a splendid sample of Lady Mary Fitzwilliam, remarkably true to colour. In the championship for six blooms Mr James Reid (Kaitangata) took first honours without opposition, his exhibit being a highly commendable one. An exhibit of roses staged on a table, made by Mr R. Nichol, contained an especially good specimen of a J. L. Mock. For the best six tea roses the same gentleman came first with a nice collection, including a Lady Hillingdon and an Alice de Rothschild. In the six red rose class Mr A. R. Low won with some flowers of excellent colour. They did not present that bleached appearance which roses sometimes do. Mr A. Miller had a fair lot of yellow roses, but they appeared to have suffered from the weather. The best were Mabel Drew and Melody. In roses staffed on a table Mr R. Nichol made a good display, and among a wealth of colour were to be seen fine representatives of the Souvenir, Maria de Zayas, and Marion Manifold, one of the best climbers which is cultivated in Victoria. He also showed a Sunburst and two Juliets. Mr E. I. Hallenstein showed for exhibition only a fine table of floweug. the prominent features among them being some splendidly-grown good calceolaria, very fine heath, and maidenhair fern. The whole exhibit looked fresh and clean. Mr IT. Clarke had a table of roses, the outstanding features being the Chateau de Clos Vougeot. Rayon D'or, Mario Adelaide, and Lady Hillingdon. Mr A. C. Broad showed a very fine collection of pansics, consisting principally of the fancy class. Mr A. J. Wilson also exhibited a table of pansics. Mr S. Cousens had a splendid lot of carnations on exhibition, chief among them being IT. Y. Brett and Gordon Douglas. In his collection of roses were included Madame E. Herriott, Mrs J. H. Walsh, and the Lvon. Other exhibitors were Mrs Bayley, Mr Guy Pickard. Mr F. Joseph, Mr E. Millin, and Mrs Butterworth. There were three decorated tables, decorated hate, some very fine sweet peas for so early in th«

season, pot plants, vegetables, etc., so that, -while it was to all intents and purposes a rose show, there was much to interest out sirle the emblem of England. The judges were:—Pot plants, Mr A. P. Hart; roses, Mr J. M'Laren (Oamaru); decorative and floral work, Miss Howden; and fruit and vegetables, Mr A. Youngson.