GERALDINE FLOWER SHOW.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13811, 23 January 1909, Page 6

GERALDINE FLOWER SHOW.

The annual show of -the Geraldine Floral and Horticultural Association was lield in the Volunteer Hall, ana was unquestionably tlie best exhibition yet'held. For' the ;; past two niontlis the vagaries of the weather had been very ."trying'to. horticulturists, ana it was expected 1 on that account that the show would suffer/However, such was not the case, as the array of vegetables was very good indeed", and showed what the district was capable of proQucing under adverse conditions. The entries totalled 934, against 724 last year, an increase 0t.21u, which augurs well for the future of the Society, ana indicates that interest in. it is in no way lacking. Throughout the afternoon there was a very good attendance, and in the :-evening tlio haLl was. filled, the weather being line doubtless accounted for the large number of country people putting in an appearance. The judges in tiie various sections of the show, were as follows:

Flowers, fruit and vegetables.— Messrs J. Young (Cliristchurch), Cross and Knovles, sehr. (Tiinaru). i'roduce and cooking classes. —Messrs G. Bundy (Ashburton;, and J, Maitland (Geralcline). Wood carving.—C. S. Wedenby (Geraldine). Needlework.—Mesdames iNicholls, Somerville and Brooks. Table decorations—Mesdaiiies F. Lysaght and H. M. Spencer. Messrs McKay and F. Clark acted as joint secretaries, assisted by Mr H. Uoldthorpe, and all did their work well, Mr Clark coining from Ashburton for the purpose. All the arrangements for the show were carried out without a 'hitch of any kind.

After the judges had completed their task, an adjournment was made to the Geraldine Hotel, where host Mullan had an excellent luncheon laid ready. About twenty sat down, including the judges, committee and other officers, i/ia Visitors. In the absence of CoLMoore, the president (Mr A. J. McKay; filled the post of chairman, and after the usual loyal toast had been honoured, he apologised for the absence of the president (Colonel Moore), who had written wishing their Society all sorts of success. Tliis was the first occasion Colonel Moore had been unable to attend. He also apologised for Mr L. Orbell, and proposed the toast of : "Kindred Societies."

Mr Knowlos (Tinwfu) responded. It was a pleasant duty for him to go about judging. He attributed the increase of entries to the energy of Mr Lechner, late president of tJie Ashburton Horticultural Society, who was now resident in Geraldine, and would be a great help to the Society. . Speaking of the Timaru show, Mr Knowlos said it was noiv practically in the hands of the amateur section, which he considered was the backbone of jsucli institutions. There was also the : Gibson memorial cup of £lO 10s to be Competed for, and he hoped Geraldine would try and take it from them. ■■ Mr R. Lechner jproposed " The Judges/' and said the vegetable section was a phenomenal orijs. He spoke of the enthusiasm showii by exhibitors, which went a long way towards making the show a success. Messrs Cross (Timaru), Young (Christchurch), Bundv ' '(Ashburton), Knowles (Timaru), Maitland (Geraldine), and Barr (Tenmki), replied. The prize list was a xiery long one. In Class A (open), pot plants, Messrs T. H. Pye and JT. S. Chapman "were the chief prize-taliers, Messrs J. Holwell and W. Coombs coming next; Mrs Cookson and Messrs'J. H. Pye, H. Turner and G. Rowe being also prizetnkeis. In roses, Messrs .1. Chapman and F. Saunders divided most, of the honours, but A. McLean had the best rose in the show. 11l cut (lowers, the chief winners were Messrs F. Saunders, J. Holwell, J. Chainnan and T H. I'ye; G. O'Neil, G. Sjnimons, and Miss Drvden also taking] firsts (Miss Dryden for sweet peas); aid Mrs Watson, Mis Logan, A. Hope.) A. McLean and A. G. Brow ii taking seconds. The prizes for fruit were well/distributed, fourteen firsts going to rio less than ten exhibitors, Messrs ('. Gimsnn (3), T. H. Pve, F. Burns |two each>, T, B. and A. Pierce, A.(Hope, J.

f '> IH. Goy G :McDonakl, and for tJl°n e - Jhe *«'e«ty-five firsts h£;tn g W P nt tu fourteen- oxlubitors, Messrs C. W. Ghnson (5), J. Chapman and J Holwell (three each), !t"J r,; er " all ailcl 0- livens (two each) TE.Pje, G., A., and C. V email, T. Burns, F. Saunders, R. Latimer, and Mrs A. Stringer (one each), arid Mrs A. C. Watson and Messrs W Coombs, .H. Sommerville, and Was. Deans took some of the second prizes.

In the "amateur class, Mr J Holwell won six of the ten firsts, Messrs J. S. 1 ye (2), and 11. Turner and Mrs Cookson the others. ,In cut flowers, Mrs A. G. Watson and Mr J. Holwell took live prizes each, and other winners were Mrs--A. McLean, Messrs A. Hope, L. H, Orbell, A. B. Todd, W. Pickiord, F. J. Wood, W. H. Turner and G. Simmonsj and a number of -others came in for seconds." In fruit, Messrs Goy, Hope, Ginison, and Howens won two firsts each, and G. S. Kennington," A. Quantoek and Mrs Elmslie one each, and nine or ten other exhibitors received second place awards, thus showing good competition. In vegetables the first prizes were similarly well distributed, Messrs D. Vemail, G. Levens and J. Holwell (three each), F. Richards, A. Gimson, G* Rowe and Jas. Dean (two each), Messrs T. H. Goy, J. Piazey, Mrs McColl, Mrs Kennington, and Miss Coombs (one each), and fouler five others won second prizes. There was an interesting collection if-floral ornaments. The table decoration competition for adults resulted: — Mrs McColl 1,, Miss Logan 2, Mrs Peacock 3, and for girls under 15, Misses Ivy Watson, A. V. Watson, and Simpson were the winners. Two important classes were the following:—Best cottage garden in township (amateur).: —G. Prouting, 116 points, 1; W, M. Beavan, 107 points, 2; R. Howard, 94 points, 3. Best kept cottage garden of quarter-acre.— M Beavan. 90 points, 1; A. br. Brown, 47 points, 2; F. J. A\ ood, 31 P °there was a'good collection of cookery and preserves, . and another ol needlework, both of which were attractive features of the show andthe prizes offered were well competed toi.