DUNEDIN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3403, 4 June 1919, Page 9

DUNEDIN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

WINTER SHOW

FINE DISPLAY OF CHRYSANTHEMUMS. The thirty-eighth annual show of the Dunedin Horticultural Society, held in the Art Gallery on the 23th, was in many respects a very admirable one, but it took place under somewhat adverse seasonal conditions. Another disability was noticed in the fact that many enthusiastic horticulturists who have distinguished themselves as exhibitors in former years had not come back from the war —some of them, alas! will never return. The number of competitors this year was also rather less than ill former years, many of the exhibitors having sent their blooms for exhibition only. The most noticeable among these was Mr E. A. Hamel, who, after being an invaluable exhibitor for 21 years and a premier prizetaker for nearly the whole of that period, this year generously stood aside so as not to outshine less capable and enthusiastic growers of chrysanthemums. His show table, wdiich occupied a middle position in the hall, was crowded with close on 200 blooms in great variety. These were the admiration of all the visitors; indeed, it may be said that without Mr Hamel's pLants the show would have been a comparative failure. It was gratifying to Mr Hamel to know that the prizes won in the open classes fell to some of his pupils, the more so as amongst them Mr T. O'Brien, of St. Kilda. took the premier prize in the show with his champion bloom Louisa Pocket. The pride of place, will probably be awarded by the public to the splendid white in Mr Hamel's collection —Louisa Pocket —which, although not fully opened out, was a beautiful bloom showimr that the variety will rival in popularity William Turner. Golden Champion—a new variety—was much admired for its good colour and perfect form. Lady Edward Miller may be regarded as the best yellow in chrysanthemum commerce. Mrs R. C. Pulling was_ a phowv bloom, and the specimen of Edith Cavell ranks as a very fine flower that is easy to rrrow. Miss Tiickett it amonersfc Mr Hamel's b~st pinks. Hammond Phillips— the only on« in the show—is a fine Japanese pink, very valuable for decorative purposes. Mrs Lloyd, a primrose yellow--a sport from

William Turner—showed up well on the table amongst a crowd of iino blooms. _ In Mr Hamel's singles Trixio was the best pink, Alfred Ayers, a rich crimson, Shasta the best white, and Margaret Mary the best bronze. All these were specially valuable decorative varieties.

Mr W. M. Beal, of Maori Hill, distinguished himself in the open competitors by showing a very fine selection. Hi 3 stand of 18 varieties would bo very hard to beat at any show, even in the most favourable season. His Louisa Pocket was a fine white bloom, and his Lady Edward Miller his best yellow. The Golden Champion was particularly, rich in colour, and his Edith Oavoll a beautiful chestnut The Bronze Mendon on Mr Beal's stage is a new flower, and the Lady Stanley, a beautiful pink, was in prime show condition.

Amongst the open-air, growers Mr T. O'Brien, of St. Kilda, won deserved distinction. Amongst his 12 varieties ho had five blooms of Louisa Pocket, Queen Mary, W. P. Francis, and William Turner. The single varieties by the same exhibitor in vases wejre beautiful blooms amongst the best being Alfred Ayers and Sylvia Slade. Amongst the foliage plants and ferns was an interesting collection grown in the Otago Hospital grounds by Mr P. H. Hollingworth, the adiantums being particularly well grown. Mr John Roberts's gardener (Mr A. V enables) showed a good collection of seedling chrysanthemums, some of which were promising plants, two or three of them being of quite outstanding quality. A fine display of greenhouse plants was sent in by Mr E. I. Hallenstein, a non-competi-tor. These comprised foliage plants, cinerarias, and chrysanthemums. Mr J. Nelson, of St. Kilda, staged some primulas for exhibition only. These were clean and well grown specimens, shown to tho best advantage by an environment of maidenhair ferns. The floral work exhibited was very good. The fruit display was not a large one, but contained some handsome, well-grown apples. Some were too large for show fruit, and lost points in consequence. Most of tho fruit was well coloured. In other cases the black spot was an offence to the judge's eye. The pears made a very poor display. In the vegetable class tho exhibits were not numerous, but many of the specimens were well grown. A plate of potatoes (Arran Chief), grown by Mr J. Ourrie on the Town Belt, was the only evidence yet made public of the well-intentioned City Council scheme for encouraging vegetable growing to meet possible food shortage in war time. The judges wore: —Pot plants and chrysanthemums, Mr D. Wall: decorative and floral, Mrs 11. T. Trevena; fruit, Mr J. 11. Throp (orchards inspector); vegetables, Mr F. H. Hollingworth.