NEW ZEALAND FLORA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3992, 16 September 1930, Page 11

NEW ZEALAND FLORA.

THE LODER CUP COMPETITION. DISPLAY TO BE MADE IN DUNEDIN. The second competition for the Loder Cup, which is offered for the best display of native flora, will be held in conjunc-. tion with the jubilee show of the Dun edin Horticultural Society in February, and efforts are already being made to assemble a collection of New Zealand plants of all kinds which will be as nearly as possible representative of the remarkable range of species this country possesses. ORIGIN OF TROPHY. The Loder Cup was the gift to New Zealand of Mr Gerald W. Loder, who expressed his wishes in respect to the trophy in a request that it be used for " the preservation and development of the incomparable flora of the Domin' n." These words are inscribed on the cup which was accepted by the Government of New Zealand and remains its property Conditions of competition for it have been drawn up by a Loder Cup Committee appointed by the Minister of Agriculture, and the trophy is annually awarded to the winner of an open competition for New Zealand plants staged at specified flower shows arranged under the auspices of the horticultural societies of Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland. It is a challenge cup, and cannot be won outright. New Zealand plants entered for the competition must be grown by competitors under bona fide garden conditions, and the display may consist of living plants growing in pots or tubs, or portions of plants taken from living specii ns grown by the exhibitor. Considera tion is given to variety of plants, quality, correct nomenclature, descriptive labelling, and artistic display.

THE FIRST COMPETITION. The first competition for the Loder Cup was held in Auckland last year, and was won by Messrs- Duncan and Davies, of New Plymouth, who exhibited a display of 507 varieties of native plants as fol-lows:—Seventy-four varieties of ferns, 36 olearias, 15 senecios, 84 veronicas, 60 rock plants, 18 climbers, and 220 shrubs and trees. It was stated to be the largest collection ever shown in Auckland. With commendable zeal and enterprise the Auckland District Council of the New Zealand Institute of Horticulture raised sufficient funds to purchase the display, and then presented it to the Auckland City Council. LOCAL PREPARATIONS. Some idea of what local horticulturists are doing to ensure a worthy display of plants from this province was gleaned by our representative last week during a visit to the gardens of a local nurseryman who has already commenced the selection and arrangement of the 600 varieties and species by which he intends to be represented in the competition. He purposes exhibiting only living specimens, and has selected plants that are well grown and of far more interest and value than the ordinary stock of the nurseryman. The layman may not readily appreciate the immense amount of time, money, and labour that is called for in the assembly of such a display, but a glance at what is being done should suffice to convince him of the magnitude of the task that has been undertaken. With such a collection the province should be worthily represented. The 600 exhibits constitute a very heavy proportion of the recognised range of New Zealand flora, which comprises in all about 1500 specie's. It is certain that the second competition for the cup will attract a more representative display

than was seen at Auckland, inasmuch as the exhibit now in course of preparation already includes many rare and important plants that were not found among the prize-winning collection last year, x Every plant has to be correctly named and labelled not only with its scientific name but also with its common name and any Maori appt/ation it may have. This in itself will prove a very formidable task, but from the manner in which it has already been put in hand there can be no doubt but that it will be effectively carried out. When the collection is exhibited for judging it will be artistically displayed under conditions that should make it extremely attractive to the public generally. The staging of the exhibit will receive particularly attention from the judges, who will also expect to find the various species arranged as near as possible in their natural order. Local enthusiasts have co-operated in making this collection as representative as possible, at the same time doing nothing that does not comply with the conditions relating to the ownership of the exhibits. From the garden of the late Sir George Fenwick many rare and valuable plants have been secured, and these, with contributions from the collection of Mr H. Hart and others, will be included in the display, which it is earnestly hoped will demonstrate that the study and cultivation of native flora in Otago is second to none in the Dominion.

The winners of the cup in Auckland last year made a very striking show, but strangely enough their stand did not include a single specimen of the wide variety of alpine plants indigenous to this country, which are among the most interesting plant studies in New Zea land. The garden visited this week con tained a notable display of celmisias and other plants, all of which are in perfect condition and have made excellent growth. The late Sir George, Fenwick’s collection contributed very largely to the variety of this section of the exhibit. . LODER CUP COMMITTEE;

At a meeting of the Loder Cup Committee this week" it was agreed that Dr Holloway, of Dunedin, and Mr C. J. Burrows, of Gore;--should be asked to act as judges. Their acceptance has not yet been received, but it is expected that .both will agree to act. Their appointment will provide for the botanical and practical aspects of the competition being fully considered. Dr Holloway’s work in the realm of botany is well known in the Dominion and should be a sufficient guarantee of an exhaustive adjudication from that standpoint, while the practical aspect of the com petition may safely be. left in the hands of Mr Burrows who is actively interested in nursery work in the southern centre. The committee at its meeting also dis cussed the question of providing for the exhibition of specimens from the gardens of enthusiasts not able to make a large display. It was suggested that the ex hibits might comprise plants in pots or flowers. 1+ was indicated at the meeting that there would be no difficulty whatever about assembling a display that would include many rare and beautiful specimens from the gardens of local enthusiasts. After the meeting of the committee past presidents of the Horticultural Society held a short meeting in connection with the proposal they have made to provide medals for special competitions at the show in February. These medals are being ordered from the Royal Horticultural Society.