LYTTELTON AND PORT VICTORIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 151, 5 November 1868, Page 2

LYTTELTON AND PORT VICTORIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The second monthly meeting of the mem bera of this society took place last night,- in the Colonists' Committee Koom. There was a pood attendance of members. The Pre -ident, Mr J. T. Rouse, occupied the chair. The minutes of the former meeting were >-cad and confirmed. The details for the currying out of the forthcoming exhibition were fully entered into. It was resolved that a ouh-committee, consisting of the President, Messrs Graham, Woledge, Ellisdon, and vVillcox, be formed for decorating the hall. The President was requested to communicate with the Provincial Secretary, asking that upecial trains run on thai day, a >d also that two truck« be placed at the Chriatchimh exhibitors' disposal, so as to prevent damage to the flowers. It was resolved that his Honor the Superintendent be invited. On Ihe motion of Mr Woledge, seconded by Mr Ellisdon, it was resolved that the prices of admission be — from twelve to three p.m , two shillings, and alter that hour, one shilling. It wan further resolved that the ex hibition close at 10 p.m. On the motion of Dr Donald, seconded by Mr D' 'yly, it was resolved that Messrs Duncan and (ireen tway be incited to act as judges, witli p >wer, if they wished, to add lo their number. On Uie motion of Dr Donald, seconded by Mr EUisdon, it was resolved that arrangements be made with some townsman to provide re freshments. Several new members were proppßed, and elected. The President then read the following :— Messrs Vice President and Gentlemen,— l think it U truly a matter for selt'-grai illation among us, that, after remaining dorm mt for so many years, our Society for the promotion of the 1 science of Horticulture in l.yttelton and the surrounding districts ,'us been reestablished, and I hope anil believe with every prospect of its becoming once more om: of the institutions of Canterbury. The objects for which this and kin red societies are estab listied, namely, the evoking a spirit of emulation among those who, whether for pleasure or profit, cultivate the soil ; the introduction of new plants, flowers, or fruits ; the obtaining/and reciprocally distributing information upon horticultural subjects ; and the establishing a library of works,' from whence t > avail ourselves of the experience and labours of others, are objects especially suited to the requirements of a young co'.ony. Kioni the earliest days of the world, man has been dependent for existence up n, the fruitfulness of the earth, its culture has been a subject of Divine commandment, and of human endeafvour. Upon the progress made in this hus ihe wealth and prosperity of nations mainly depended ; and, hand in hand with

pursuits, have the : t!gTtt*ef*" ~#n& more pleasurable toils •of ~ the horticulturist progressed, and are still "^progrej3sing; the pleasures of the fardeqKave been written and sung of, by all posts, jancjent and modern, from the daya of the insbii;|d Psalmist of Israel ; the nurture of ithe'flbwers of tbe field has surrounded with beauty the mansion of the rich, and the dwelling of the poor, from the wondrous hanging gardens of Nineveh of old, to the cottage window of the peasant of to-day. And it is not to be wondered at, that in all countries and in all ages, this should have beea a. pursuit to which the best energies of very many should have been devoted ; there is perhaps no other in which the working: of the Almighty hand.can be so" clearly traced and followed out — no study which so controverts the "chance " theory set up by the sceptic or tenches us io to appreciate that wondrous wiadom which has fixed immutably the seed time and harvest; has clothed the lilies of the field in garb that kings might envy; ana has given to man the skill to cultivate the earth, that she may give forth her. increase in return for his toil; even among the Pagan nations of old, the special care of many among th^ir crowd of divinities wan believed to be devoted to the well being of the field, the orchard, and the vinoyard; and the offerings made to propitiate these, and to. secure their good will with a view to the obtaining of an abundant harvest, shewed that their worshippers recognised in the round of changei from seed time. to harvest, and from harvest to seed time, the ruling of a power without whose aid the labour* of the h unban..man would be vain. Aad I* think there ia scarcely any occupation more pleasurable than that whicn our society especially aims to encourage ; it conduces to health more than any other, it leads to habits of observation and admiration of the wonderful procceit.es by which the work of nature is carried on ; there is scarcely a day that it does not afford us some discovery, or teach us some new lessonof watchfu neeßor diligence, which it well repay*; even the failures which we make are bat an incentive to renewed exertions, and though in this, as in al oiher pursuits, the good aimed at, perfection, though so often almost reached, yet eludes the grasp ; yet improvement is the certain result of perseverance. Botany teaches us that the most luscious fruit and the loveliest flower are but the result of a progressive development from a comparatively insignificant starting point ; the most delicious apple must own as its remote ancestor, the sour, harsh crab ; the pulp of the finest flavoured peach might be traced back to the tough and bitter rind of the wildi almond ; the fullest and most gorgeous rose had for its progenitor the wild one of the hedgerow ; and we find that among all nations upon whom the rays of civilization have shone, the assisting* by art in this development has been the aim of the horticulturist, and that his labours have been crowned with success. The hieroglyphics of the ancient Egyptians and the writings of the Greek and Romans prove that many of the processes of cultivation and propagation in use at the present time are of great antiquity, and that although the scientific explanation of the manner in which these operated may have been unknown to them, still that a study of nature bad led them to adopt the means which ended in successful results. Among the Eastern nations, and especially the Chinese, the cultivation of flowers and fruits has been a study for ages past and to the latter nation we are indebted not only for many of our best flowers arid fruits, but also for many of the processes adopted for bringing them to their present state of perfection. Within the last few centuries, however, the science of horticulture has, perhaps, found more followers in our own native islands than in any other part of the globe; no cottage in England or Scotland is complete without its trim little garden, no mansion without its gardens, conservatory, and hothouses; plants from all quarters of the, globe have been made the subjects of successful culture ; and even amid the smoky and murky atmosphere of our manufacturing towus, the garret window of the mechanic s made more cheery by the enlivening influence of a few favourites, which it takes all his care and nurture to preserve in a Btrugglingr existence, but which servers a connecting link between him and the green fields beyond his reach. As a natural result, wherever the native of the British Isles may find a home of adoption, we find his taste for horticulture, developing itself, and in no place does it so mure than in these lands in the Southern Hemisphere, where a genial climate and a gentToua soil are ready aids to his lahours. In New Zealand, and more especially in Canterbury, in spite of our uncertain; 'atmosphere of storms an i sunshine, we have many advantagesof climate above those of our more tropical neighbours. In none of the other Southern colonies can the fruits and flowers endeiiredto us by old association be cultivated with such success or to euch perfection of fl .your in the one, or of beauty ami perfume of the other, as in Canterbury; we are «lud to grow, without the complication of labour and appliances required at home, many of those which there demand the gardener's constant care, and are the oljects of his greatest solicitude ; and we have the additional advantage of be ng able to add to the ornaments of our garden, many of those to which the severity of an English winter would be fatal, and the cultivation of which at home is restricted to those who can give the artificial protection of stoves or- glass 'houses. There is no feature in our colony, I think, which strikes the new-i:omer from Kngland so forcibly as the beauty and luxuriance of our gardens, and it is well, that the science of Horticulture has met with so many patrons here. The exhibitions in years gone by of the old Horticultural Society in Lyttelton, I have heard spoken of by .many with feelings of pleasure, mingled with regret that they have f r so many years been discontinued. The Christchurch society has

flourished, and year by year has increased in thj? ?Binber of exhibitors, and the richness of its' exhibits; j no doubt we have lost from among us many of those who would have aided materially in advancing the objects of our society, still I am glad to find that many of those who are not actually fellow-towns-men, are willing and anxious to assist us, and 1 trust that now this society is fairly established, we shall be able to maintain it as pleasurable and profitable to ourselves, and attractive to those who may visit us from other parts of the province. Mr Balestiee proposed that a cordial vote of thanks be given to the President for his interesting paper. The motion was carried unanimously.