HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

Otago Witness, Issue 3327, 19 December 1917, Page 8

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

SUMMER SHOW. The Dunedin Horticultural Society's Summer Show was held in the Art Gallery Hall on the 12th. The season has been an exceptionally favourable one for flowers, with plenty of sunshine and an absence of wind, and the many bright-coloured exhibits testified to the use that gardeners had made of the opportunity presented to 'them. Tho brightness of the display was striking. Dunedin seems to produce better colour in roses than any other part of the dominion. There was a large attendance yesterday afternoon and again last night. On the latter occasion music was eupplied by Mr Kerr's Orchestra.

The open championship in roses was a strong centre of attraction, and flower lovers had much to admire. Mr Niohol (Anderson Bay) showed very good specimens of Paula Clegg (red) and F. M. Vcitch. Mr Robertson (Hampden), who is a large exhibitor at the show, had a perfect Lyon and an exquisite British Queen, with a fine Betty. In Mr Johnson's (North-East Valley) collection the Marcella (cream) was the best, and a good Normandy came in for everybody's praise. Mr Low had _a very nice Avoca (red). In the class for six roses, Mr J. H. Seidelin showed two new roses, Gorgeous and Red Cross, and a National Anthem, and Mr Nichol had a collection that would bear close inspection. The hybrid teas were brought into prominence by an admirablke lot sent in by Mr Robertson (Hampden), including a very good Dean Hole. For the Moss memorial trophy there were 10 competitors. Mr Robertson was again forward with a desirable collection, among the number being Geoffrey Hewston, Captain Hayward, and British Queen. The amateur championship was contested by five exhibitors. Mr Reid (Kaitangata), who secured the honour, had a well-formed Earl of Warwick and a good J. L. Mock. The best of Mr R. R, Cameron's selection were Sacheengruss (a fine pink) and Colleem In the collection of 12 roses, with not less than nine varieties, Miss Ethel Johnstone, Mr W. Pickard, and Mr W M. Bcal had some exceedingly choice blooms.

Tables of roses, for exhibition only, were shown by the Rev. R. E. Davies, Messrs 11. Clark, S. Cousins, J. H. Seidelin, *and Cousins Bros. Mr Clark had some of the finest roses in the show, including a Marcella (cream) —probably the best bloom in the hall. Not a little attention was paid to Mr Davies's table, on which there were some pretty climbing roses and. superb specimens of Hugh Dickson, Sachsengruss, Maharajah (a good single rose),, Mrs John Laing (pink), and Nita Weldon (pink and white). In Mr Seidolin's collection were a delightful Juliet and a fine National Anthem, together with a novelty in the shape of Cheerful (an apricot pink). Mr S. Cousins had a nice table of plants. Among those that attracted notice was Gebera Jamesonii, which is a novelty here. There were also cut blooms of the red manuka and a vase of Glenista fragrans, a beautiful yellow scented shrub that blooms nine months in the year. The selection of rosea included Gorgeous, Red-letter Day, Colleen, Mrs Wemyss Quinn, and Madame E. Herriott. There was also a stand of carnations of 18 varieties, but it is rather early for carnations yet, and the blooms-were on the small side Cousins Bros. (Mosgiel) had a large variety of roses on their table, many of good quality. There was only one entry for the stand of roses. It was very artistically arranged with fine varieties of climbing rosea at the top, surrounded by a magnificent selection of blooms, every one being a good standard as to form, colour, and 6ize. Among the lot were Mrs Longworth, Mra David M'Kee, Chateau de Clos Vougeot (dark red), and Paula Clegg (red). This exhibit was sent in by Mr Nichol (Anderson Bay). Other cut flowers formed an attractive section, and the decorative and floral work had a host of admirers. Vegetables and fruit made a small display. The 24 heavy gooseberries which took first prize weighed 19oz, the second prize lot being only half an ounce less. A very attractive exhibit not for competition was supplied by Mr D. Tannock (superintendent of reserves) in 'the shape of an artistically arranged table of very fine specimens of 'pot plants. The judges were: Roses, Mr J. M liaren (Oamaru); pot plants, foliage plants, and cut flowers other than roses, Mr Hart (Dunedin): floral and decorative, Miss Reid (Duncdin); fruit and vegetables, Mr Hoilingworth (Dunediri).