WANGANUI HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S AUTUMN SHOW.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XVIII, Issue 9352, 10 March 1881, Page 2

WANGANUI HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S AUTUMN SHOW.

f We have once more to record a very gratifying amount of success as attending this Society's efforts towards the getting up of an Autumn Show of flowers, fruits, and vegetables. It would be useless to say that there was not room for improvement in yesterday's exhibition, but many of the exhibits were very creditable to the growers, and the effect was altogether excellent. But we cannot shut our eyes to the fact that the efforts and objects of the Society do not appear to find favour over such a wide circle as is desirable. In a district like Wanganui where climate and soil are alike admirable for horticultural pursuits, and where th* 1 ancient craft is certainly not neglected, there should be many more exbibitors. In much less favoured localities we have seen a much larger number of exhibitors from amongst the cultivators of small gardens. Indeed this class of horticulturists frequently carry off prizes in competition with the owners of far more pretentious, gardens, and the possessors of far more elaborate appliances, the reason being that in places where there is a wide-spread competition each small cultivator concentrates his attention on the production of a few really good specimens, and the labour required to bring them into a condition fit for the udge's eye is not greater than can be spared from the ordinary every day work of cultivation. "We do not wish, however, to be hypercritical, and are quite willing; to admit that yesterday's show was, in some respects, an advance on former ones, and gave promise of better things in the future. The arrangements in the hall were somewhat new, the centre screen being dispensed with, and its place taken by a long arbour covered with the giant leaves of thenikau palm, a double line of seats extending from one end of the structure to the other. Outside the arbour and against its sides was staging, that on the right hand being occupied principally by exhibits of fruit, and that on the left by cut flowers, floral devices, and bouquets. There was also staging around the walls of the hall. The entire length of the left hand wall was occupied by two excellent collections of pot plants, one from Mr James Laird's Egmont Nursery, and the other from Mr A. Laird's Fairfield Nursery. These collections were merely on exhibition and not for competition, and proved a most attractive feature in the show. Along the right hand wall were a very fine cjUection of growing ferns exhibited by Mr Field, another by Miss Noake, and a choice general collection of pot plants exhibited by Mr J. G. Sharpe, conspicuous amongst which were some good specimen begonias, whose splendid foliage aad excellent cultivation were greatly admired. The cut blooms at this show were not so fine as we anticipated. The roses are nearly off, and we heard the same remark with regard to dahlias, the dry weather having had the effect of parching up a good many of them. Under favourable circumstances they should hold out till the frost destroys them, at least that is generally understood in the old country, and with rather later planting and plenty of moisture would be the case here. Indeed, we know of dahlias in this district which are at the present time just coming into bloom. But although the dahlias were few in number yesterday, there were some very good varieties. The verbenas were good, but we expect would have been better a month earlier. The district can boast some of the best in cultivation, and in this climate they well repay any care which may be bestowfirl on them. The pansies were conspicous by their absence. "We only saw four, and they were nothing to brag about. There were excellent fuschia blooms, and one or two which were new to us, though probably not recent additions to the catalogues. The bouquets were not in our opinion so good as they have been on some former occasions. However, there was a good collection, and some of the grouping and tying was artistic. There were not many floral devices, but what there were were for the most part very good. A large harvest device, which stood about five feet high, on a stand by itself, was particularly worthy of notice. It was the handiwork of Mrs Stewart, of Marton, a.nd was an elaborate combination of grain in ear, grasses, fruits, and flowers, remarkable for its size, beauty of form, and capital blending of colour. But some of the grasses appeared to have been dyed, a process Avhich the horticultural exhibitor had better leave alone. Another device well worthy of favourable notice was a model of Chingford Old Church in Essex, by Miss Snelgrove, of Marton. We cannot say what was the material of the groundwork, but the entire structure was covered by moss put on in very small pieces, and, as the workmanship was excellent, the effect was very pleasing. A third device — by Mrs Williamson, TuraMna — was the words, " Consider the lilies," ingeniously worked in moss, and surrounded by a frame, the principal component part of which appeared to be peach stones half concealed in moss — a whimsical idea, but very well wrought out. We also noticed one large hanging device, the design of which was entirely worked out with flowers, and was very beautiful. The artist was Miss Watts, of Wanganui. The best and largest collection of fruit was from the garden of Mr George Walker, of Aramoho, the apples being especially fine. Mrs W. H. Watt showed some good grapes, as did Mr Soler, and amongst them we noticed an excellent growth of the old Black Hamburgh, the result of out-door cultivation. Amongst the vegetables the potatoes exhibited must take first rank, the sorts being very numerous, and many of them of enormous size, with clean skins and every sign of good cultivation and sound, healthy growth. We particularly noticed several small lots raised by Messrs Moore and Currie, of Kai Iwi ; and Mr James Laird exhibited the twelve undermentioned sorts, the two first being late varieties and the remaining ten early : — Giant King, Brownell's Beauty, Snowflake, Fortyfold, Early American Rose, Breese's Climax, Early Goodrich, Breeze's Peerless, Ashleaf Kidney, Breeze's Prolific, and King of the Earlies. There was a fair show of other vegetables, but nothing worthy of special notice, if we except some cucumbers, from the gardens of Mrs Churton and Mr Stevens, which were very finely grown and remarkably straight,the latter desideratum not always to be attained without some trouble. We are glad to be able to say that the show was well patronised by the public, there being a crowd both in the afternoon and at night. The pro•ceedings were greatly enlivened by the Band of the Wanganui Rifles (under Bandmaster King) who played a carefully selected programme in a manner which gave the greatest satisfaction to all present. After the prize list had I)een gone through, the Committee, the Judges, and a few invited guests dined together at the Rutland Hotel. The following are the awards of the Judges, Messrs Christie, F. Hunter, and A. Laird, who did their work very carefully, and gave every satisfaction : — PRI2JE LIST. CLASS I. — POT GBO'Vra' PLANTS. Geranium, double : J. G. Sharpe. Pot plants, ladies: 1, Mrs Harper; 2, Mrs Churton*

Begonias, in bloom : 1, J. G. Sharpe ; 2, Mrs Harper. Musk: J. Goode. Ornamental foliage (not begonias): 1, J. Gr. Sharpe ; 2, A. Kitney. Begonias (foKage) : 1, Mrs Harper; 2, J. G. Sharpe. New Zealand Forns : H. C. Field. Exotic Perns : H. C. Field. Collection Ferns : H. C. Field. CLASS II. — CUT FLOWERS. Double geraniums: George Walker ; single : G. Walker, Pansies : J. Cannons. FourEoses: 1, J. Walker; 2, J. G. Sharpe. Six Eoses : G. Walker. Six Verbenas: 1, G. Walker; 2, H. C. Field. Twelve Verbenas : H. C Field. Fuchsias: 1, G. Walker; 2, J. Cannons. Six Dahlias : J. G. Sharpe. Three Dahlias : J. G. Sharpe. Four Phlox Drummondi : J. Cannons Phlox Herbaceous : J. Cannons. Delphinium : (honourable mention) J. Cannons. Collection Cut Flowers: G. Walker. Hand Bouquet: 1, H. C. Field; 2, Miss Watts. Table Bouquet: 1, H. C. Field; 2, G. Walker. Flower Stand: 1, Mrs Harper; 2, Miss Foreman. Floral Device; 1, Miss Watts; 2, Mrs Williamson. Dried Ferns : H. C. Field. Devices (not floral): 1, Mrs Stewart; 2, Miss Snellgrove. CLAS3*HI. — FRUIT. Apples (dessert) : 1, Mrs Currie ;2, E. Newing. Apples (cooking): 1, G. Walker ; 2, A. A. Sherriff. Pears (dessert): 1, G. Walker; 2, H. C. Field. Pears (cooking): 1, G. Walker ; 2, J. Soler. Plums (cooking) : 1, G.Walker; 2, J. Soler. Plums (dessert): 1, G. Walker ; 2, J. Soler. Peaches (clingstone) : J. G. Sharpe. Peaches (freestone) : G. Walker. Grapes (black): J. Soler. Grapes (white) : J. Soler. Nectarines : Mrs Churton. Quinces : G. Walker. Water Melon : Stevens. Eock Melon : Stevens. Medlars : H. C. Field. Mulberries: 1, Mrs Churton; 2, J. Soler. Tomatoes : J. Moore. Cape Gooseberries : Miss Churton. Walnuts : H. C. Field. Seedling Apples : 1, G.Walker; 2, E. Newing. Collection Pears : G. Walker. Collection Fruit : G. Walker. Apples (exhibition) : Hon. mention, G. Franklin. Jams: 1, Mrs Harper; 2, Miss Churton. Bottled Fruit : Mrs Liffifcon. Pickles : Miss Churton. CLASS IV. — VEGETABLES. Beet: Stevens. Beans : Stevens. Carrots : King. Cucumbers: 1, Stevens; 2, Mrs Churton. Cabbage: King. Cabbage (red): Stevens. Cauliflower: J. Goode. Lettuces: Stevens. Onions: 1, Stevens; 2, J. Goode. Parsnips : King. Peas : Stevens. Potatoes: 1, King; 2, J. Goode. Potatoes (seedling) : King. Potatoes (collection) : King. Custard Marrow : J. Goode. Pumpkins : Stevens. Vegitable Marrow : Stevens. Turnips : J. Goode. Collection Vegitables : 1, Stevens ; 2, J. Goode. Sugar Beet: J. Goodo. Ehubarb : J. Soler.