HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XVIII, Issue 2701, 19 March 1875, Page 2

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The Autumn Show of this Society was held yesterday in the Odd fellows' Hall. In consequence of the Hall having been occupied until a somewhat late hour the previous evening, those who had the management and arrangement of the show found their task crowded into shorter and more inconvenient hours than on previous occasions. Shortly after the performance of the previous evening, the horticultural committee began the preparations, and contrived to have arrangements pretty well completed for the different exhibits as they commenced to pour in. The arrangement of the hall was very similar to that of former occasion, except that the largely increased show of fruifc rendei ed a proportionate allotment of space necessary, whereas the exhibits of flowers necessarily occupied much less spyce than in the height of the flower season. To the right and left of the door were displayed vegetables in great variety and of flrst-class quality, amongst which we observed some fine specimens of beet, exhibited by Mr. Laird, some splendid exhibits of white cabbage by Mr. Laird, and of red by Mr. Duthie. The exhibits of potatoes, although not

' very numerous, were really good, as were also some exhibits of oarrots (red) ; there were also a few exhibits of peas, cucumbers, on cion s, &c. The whole of the right side and the stage end of the hall was devoted to the show of fruit. There were only two or tlree exhibits of grapes, some very choice Black Hamburgs and others, the clusters of which were very large ; but they gave evidence of a want of careful attention, and had evidently been exhibited as a specimen of what our soil can produce, rather than as the result of culture. There was one sample, however, exhibited by Mr. G. Walker, which were pronounced to beof the fin est flavour, and the bunches of which seemed to indicate a watchful attention on the part of the grower. This was a cluster or two of the Muscat Hamburg, which weie brought by Mr. Walker simply for exhibition. Tbere were a very large number of entiies of apples, all of the exhibits being of a superb description. The pears were very good, but there were only a few exhibits. Of quinces there were two or thiee really good plates, although they were somewhat small ; the finest were contributed by Mr. H. C. Field, and were awarded first prize. The show of plums was necessarily small. There weie a goodly number of entries of peaches, some of the exhibits being of the finest flavour. The exhibits of tomatoes were deserving of notice, and a few exhibits of cape gooseberries, which were but of small size. The centre of the hall and the platform to the lefc were set apart for flowers, and were chiefly occupied by foliage plants and ornamental shrubs, in pot. The centre stand was occupied by the collections of Mr. J. Duthie and Mr. Tuffin, amongst that of tbe former were several varieties of Begonia, whilst in that of the latter we noticed a splendid specimen of the wax-plant of Jamaica. There was nob a veiy great variety of ornamental shrubs. Of bouquets there was not a very large display, but those exhibited gave evidence 'if great taste on the part of the exhibitors. To Mr D. Willi imson was awarded the prize, whose taste in arranging flowers to advantage has frequently formed the subject of comment. At the end of the centre stand, and faciig the entrance to the hall, was a colos>al pyramid of flowers, provoking inquiry as to where they had all come from, and on either side stood a cypress of some eight feet iv height, giving completeness to the picture. This was the work of Mr. D. Williamson, who must have devoted some time to its arrangement, and whose fondness for flowers amounts almost to a passion. In future shows of the Society, this gentleman, who has always taken a lively interest in its pioceedings, will be very much missed, as he is about to go upon his farm. At the rear of the hall, we observed fronds of the nikau placed here and there in order to take from the rough appearance of the stage, and just in front of these stood a specimen of the Brnnswickia Josephina, or large poison bulb of South Africa, the largesc known bulb. This specimen was exhibited by Mr. Williamson, aud its bulb was said to fill the pot in which it stood.

On the wall to the right Mr. H. C. Field had arranged some 80 to a 100 specimens of fern, which attracted the attention of a large number. The Society hrtd offered prizes, and we had hoped to see at least twe or three exhibits. However, those of Mr. Field comprised almost every local variety, some of which can only be found at an altitude of from one thousand to fifteen hundred feet above the sea. During the evening there was a fair attendance of visitors, and the ladies ex perienced some little inconvenience and annoyance by the practice recklessly indulged in by a number of lads in the gallery of throwing lozenges and similar missiles at the fair faces below them. It is a very foolish and reprehensible practice, and we fail to see what pleasure they can derive from it. Class I— Pot Plants in Bloom. Fuschsias, 3 varieties (single), lat prize J. G. Sharpe. Geraniums, 3 varieties (single), lat, J. G. Sharpe. Geraniums, 3 varieties (double), lat, J. G. Sharpe. Geraniums, 3 varietiea, (Tricolour), Isb. J. G Sharpe. Pelargoniums, 3 varieties, lst, T. Tuffin. Three Ornamental Foliage Plants, 3 varietiea, lat, J. Duthie ; 2nd, S. H. Drew. Conifers, beat collection, one each kind, 12 varietiea, lst, J. G. Sharpe ; 2nd, A.

Laird. Best Collection, lst, T. Tuffin ; 2nd, J Duthie.

Class 2- Cut Flowers. Aster, 4 varieties, lst, G. Walker. Geraniums, 4 varieties, (double), lst, G

Walker. Geraniums, 6 varieties, (single), lst, G,

Walker. Pansies, 4 varieties, lst, G. Walker. Roses, 4 varieties, 2nd, G. Walker. Verbenas, 6 varieties, (2 each kiud), lst, G Walker ; 2nd, H. C Field. Dahlias, 6 varietiea, lst, A Laird. Zinnia, 4 varieties, lst, S. Wbite.

Best Collection, lat, G. Walker. Hand Bouquet not exceeding 6 inches in diameter, lat, D. Williamson; 2nd, A.

Laird Table Bouquet, not 12 inches in diameter, lst, G. Walker ; 2nd, A. Laird. Best Device, Ist, D. Williamson. Best Collection of Dried or Mounted Ferns, lat, H. 0. Field. Class 3— Fruit. Apples (desert), plate of 6, Ist, G. Walker ; 2nd, G. S. Davis. Apples (cooking), plate of 6, lst, J. Laird ; 2nd, G. Walker. •Pears (desert), lst, TS,. Wall ; 2nd, D. Strachan. Pears (cooking), lst, G. Walker. Plums, plate of 6, Ist, G. White ; 2nd, S. Patterson. Peaches (clingstone), plate of 6, lst, S. Rice. Peaches (freestone), lat, J. G. Sharpe. Grapes (hot-house), 3 bunches, lßt, G. Walker.

Grapes (out door), 3 bunches, lst, T. Roots; 2nd, J. Bridge. -Grapes (white), 3 bunches, lst, T Roots Quince, plate of 6, lat, H. C. Field. Rock Mellon, lßt, P. McWilliams. Medlar, plate of six, Ist, G. Patterson. Mulberry, plate of 12, Ist, G. Patterson. Tomatoes, plate of 6, lat, P. Mc Williama. Cape Gooseberries, plate of 25, lat, P. McWilliams. Wain n ta, plate of 6, lst, G. Patterson. Seedling Apples, plate of 3, lat, J. A. Burnett. Collection of Apples, lst, D. Strachan; 2nd, G. S. Davis. Collection of Fruit, lst, S. Rice ; 2nd, G. Patterson. Jams Jamß, in jars, containing not leas than lib, (3 varieties)— lat, Mrs E. N. Liffiton; 2nd, Mrs Hogg. Bottle Fruit— (3 varietieß^lst^Mr E. N. Liffiton. Clall 4— Vegetables. Beet, (3 roots) Ist, A. Laird. Beans, kidney, 12 pods, lst, A. Laird. Beans, runners, 12 pods, lst, W. King. Celery, 3 roots, lat, A. Laird. Carrots, 6 roots, lst W. King. Cucumber, 3, lst, E Churton. Cabbage, 3, Ist, J. Laird. Cabbage, red, 3. lat, J. Duthie. Oniona, 6, lst, G. Patterßon ; 2nd P. McWiliiam. Parsnips, 6, lst, T. Roots. Peaa, 25 pods, Ist, W. King. Potatoes, 12. lst, J. Laird ; 2nd. W. King. Potatoes, (seedling) 6, lst, E. Churton; 2nd, E. W-ard. Pumpkin, 1, lst, P. McWilliam. Vegetable Marrow, 1, lst, Townsend. Turnips, 6, Ist, A. Laird. Beat collection, lat, A. Laird.