ARISTOCRATIC FLOWERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 219, 15 September 1928, Page 8

ARISTOCRATIC FLOWERS

NATIONAL DAFFODIL SHOW THE ANNUAL EXHIBITION (By “Ajax.”) It has been a revelation to the Wanganui public : id to daffodil growers in particular to have had the opportunity of witnessing such a profusion of the world’s aristocratic daffodils such as was shown at the annual exhibition of the National Society staged here in conjunction with the local Horticultural Society’s spring show.

Many fine things were expected, but few anticipated the gorgeous blooms which were arrayed on the central stand in the Drill Hall. As a background to the golden blooms the stand was darped in black, which served to show the blooms off to the best advantage. The following is a list of the exhibitors: J. C. Sharp, Oratia, Auckland; C. W. Pierson, Te Aroha; T. Broad, Rangaroa, Taumarunui; T. G. Maunder, Gisborne; Mrs John Martin, Martinborough; Geo. Booth, Carterton; J. H. Poole, Lower Hutt; W. Slater, Lower Hutt; C. Buckingham, Lower Hutt; A. J. P. Thomson, Lower Hutt; A. W. Broadway, Otaki; J. Reynolds, (Jtaki; J. C. Glover, Rongotea; A. S. Brewster, Feilding; T. G. Faulding, Halcombe; A. Gibson, Marton; A. Chrystal, Eltham; C. Goodson, Hawera; and last but by no means least, that giant amongst daffodil growers, Robert Gibson.

The outstanding flowers of the show were “Fortune” —a huge golden yellow Incom., with deeply stained orange red cup, which is of great size. “Egmont Queen” —a perfect giant Leedsii, ivory white throughout, with a magnificent perianth, and in the opinion of the writer easily the best Leedsii in the show. This variety was raised by the late Mr John Gibson, of New Plymouth, and has had the distinction of being the first seedling flower registered with the National Daffodil Society. “Renown” - - huge trumpet daffodil of perfect form and pose, but somewhat lacking in colour. “Wellington”—a redcupped Incom., keenly desired by all daffodil enthusiasts, for its perfect symmetry and beautiful colouring, having a rich deep yellow, well overlapped perianth and an intensely full rich red cup. This variety was raised by Mr C. Goodson, of Hawera, and an offer of £25 tailed to secure a bulb. In Mr Alan Gibson’s exhibits I noticed a very fine yellow seedling Incom., under the number of 32. “Neatness’ ’ —an exceedingly shapely Incom., with white perianth. “Goldwell” — an immense self yellow Incom., of old gold colouring, raised by the late Mr A. E. Lowe. “Marton Beacon”— rich yellow perianth and very much spred cup with heavily stained red rim. “Gold Dust”—a seedling bicolour trumpet, and a yellow trumpet by the name of “Pukepapa.” In Mr A. W. Broadway’s exhibit there were many very fine flowers and many visitors expressed their opinion that this exhibit deserved a better position than it was awarded. Chief amongst the blooms were the following, all of a very high order in their respective classes and worthy of a place in all good collections;—“Cora,” division 1C; “Itonus,” division 1A; “Mary Bennett,” division 4A; “Isis,” division 3B; “Macetower,” an old flower, but still one of the best, and “Renown,” also a well-known champion trumpet variety raised by D. V. West, of Victoria.

In Robert Gibson’s exhibits were some wonderful flowers, including “Fortune,’ ’for which he paid £6O for a single bulb, “Kantara, ” the largest white trumpet in the world to-day, “Beershceba,” the recognised queen of white trumpets, “Pilgrimage” a very chaste flower, whose form suggests jonquil parentage somewhere in its career, but is very large and shapely, “Clarion,” a fine yellow trumpet, raised by the late Dr. Tower, “Nissa, ’’ a borderline flower, raised by the Brodie, of Brodie Castle, “Basilia,” raised by Barr and Sons, of London, a giant Leedsii of extraordinary quality, being second only to ‘ ‘ Egmont Queen,” “White Conqueror,” another magnificent white trumpet variety, and “Tenedos,” considered by British growers to be the queen of gi-nt Leedsii’s, but its three inner perianth siginents, which are weak, forces it into a position below “Egmont Queen.” In Mr J. H. Poole's exhibits were also some very excellent blooms, including “Conqueror,” a bi-colour trumpet of excellent quality, “The Don,” another variety of the same class, ‘White Nile,” a very beautiful and chaste giant Leedsii, “Carlton,” a splendid rich yellow Incom., “Golden Pedestal,” another high-class yellow Incom., and a very beautiful double variety known as “Red and Gold,” raised by Mr W. F. Copeland, of England.

In the class for Sir Heaton Rhodes Challenge Cup for New Zealand raised seedling, which was won by Mr R. Gibson, the outstanding flowers were “Wellington,” “Silver Plane,” “Armistice,” “Egmont Queen,” “Gibsoni,” “Flash Lightning,” and in Mr Poole’s exhibit for the same lass were “Courtier,” Goldwell,’’ and “Golden Dawn. ’ ’ The following varieties received awards from the floral committee: “Egmont Queen,” preliminary recognition certificate, and “Wellington,” award of merit. The following were xhe prize winners: Class No. I— Open The Gibson Perpetual Challenge Bowl, value 45gns., presented by Robert Gibson, Esq., Mania. First prize: Gibson Challenge Bowl and National Daffodil Society’s silver medal. Second prize: National Daffodil Society’s bronze medal. —A. Gibson, Marton, first with Alamton 2A; Golden Sunrise 1A; Seedling 14, 4A; Seedling 32, 2A; Noma 5; Hospodar 2A; Florists’ Delight 1A; Seedling 71, 2B; Manaia 2A; Marton Beacon 2A,; Baxitra 4A; The Marquis 1A; Sunburst 2A; Wingold 2A; Hometruth 2A; Seedling 72, 1C; Golden City 1A; Orange Glow 2A; Clinker 2A; Admiral Beattie 1A; Neatness 2B; Gloriana 2A; Gold will 2A; Mrs E. Krilage 18. Mr A. W. Broadway second with Sunrise 38, Cora 1C; Harbour Lights 8; White Nile 4A; Itonus 1A; Mary Blewitt 4A; Scarlet Gem 8; Royal Sovereign 10; Moira O’Neill 1C; Glenelg 1C; Lord Roberts IA; Pumacei 4A; Michael 1A; St. Vincent 4A; Isis 3B; White Star 3B; Fleetwing 2B; Hometruth 2A; Maccbcarer 2B; Renown

1A; Orange Glow 2A; Yellow Aster 2A; Yellow Poppy 2A. Class No. 2 —Open The British Raisers’ Permanent Challenge Cup, for Narcissi raised in the British Isles and grown in New Zealand. •18 Varieties—3 blooms of each. First prize: The British Raisers’ Challenge Cup and Society’s silver medal. Second prize: Society’s bronze medal.—Mr R. Gibson, Manaia, first with Kantara, Pilgrimage, Bursheba; Clarion; White King; White Nile; Orange Glow; Nissa; valiant, Bassilia; The Marquis; Hometruth; Fortune; White Conqueror; Scarlet Gem; Tenedos, Hospadar, Loyalty,. J. H. Poole second with Scarlet Gem; Tamerlane: Conqueror; Goldolphin; The Don; Red and Gold Sunrise; White Nile; Bernardino; Carlton; Thordis; Golden Pedestal; Hercules; Hospodar, Tenedos; Golden Sunrise; Macebearer; Lord Kitchener. Class No. 3—Open The Martin Challenge Cup, value 21. guineas; presented by Mrs John Martin, of Martinborough. First prize: Martin Challenge Cup and National Daffodil Society’s silver modal. Second prize: National Daffodil Society’s bronze medal.—Won by A. Gibson, with Marton Beacon, Royal Blood, Satara, Gold Dust, Seedling, Pukepapa, Martona, Mrs T. Philipsou, Biscuit Queen, Alamton, The Duchess, Noma. Mr C. Goodson was second, with 12 unnamed seedlings. Class No. 4 —Open. The Rhodes Solid Silver Challenge Cup, presented by Sir Heaton Rhodes, Otahuna, Taitapu. First prize: Sir Heaton Thodes Challenge Cup and National Daffodil Society’s silver medal. Second prize: National Daffodil Society’s bronze medal. —Won by Robert Gibson, with Crofton, Wellington, Lady Roberts, Silver Plane, Brimstone, Armistice, Admiral Beattie, Flash Lightning, Egmont Queen, Gibsonii, Peggie, Fire King. Mr J. H. Poole was second, with Vermilion, Harbour Lights, Scannell’s Seedling, Gredin Dawn, North Lancer, Yellow Girl, Houri, War Cloud, James 664 A, Goldwell. Class No. s—Open.5—Open. The Marchand Silver Challenge Cup, presented by L. Marchand, Esq., Auckland. First prize: Marchand Challenge Cup and National Daffodil Society’s silver medal. Second prize: National Daffodil Society’s bronze medal. —Won by J. H. Poole, with 12 unnamed varieties. Class No. 6—Amateur The McKinnon Silver Rose Bowl, value 12gns, presented by Wm. McKinnon, Esq., Gisborne. First prize: Silver Rose Bowl and Society’s silver medal. Second prize: Society’s bronze medal. —Won by M. A. J. P. Thomson, with Primrose Phoenix, Lolette, Felspar, Lucreci, Sunrise, Renown, Hospodar, Sovereign, Orange Glory, Finespun, Golden City, Yellow Girl. Mr A. S. Brewster second, with Tamerlane, Loch Tyne, Scarlet Gem, Maccbcarer, J. T. Bennett Poi, Fleetwing, Sunrise, Duke of Wellington, Brilliancy, White Slave, Trewethein, Bcrnardmo. Class No. 7 —Amateur 12 Varieties Daffodils, one bloom of each ;not less than 3 divisions.—Won by A. Chrystal, Eltham, with White Nile, Orange Glow, Golden City, Nobbie, Seedling, Fortune, Bonzor, Rubellite, Golden Sunrise, Duchess, Geoffrey, Militant. Mrs John Martin was second, with Renown, White King, Militant, Mozart, Hospodar, Akela, Golden City, Bcrnardmo, The Don, Yellow Poppy, Mrs Hugh Campbell, Orange Glory. Class No. B—Amateur. Six varieties Daffodils, one bloom of each.—Won by C. Goodson, with Wellington, Lord Roberts, Seedling, Tenedos, Seedling 2A, Seedling 2A, Finespun, Fleetwing, Renown. North Island Amateur Championship (Open to all Amateur Growers.) Twelve varieties—3 blooms of each. — Won by Mr W. Slater, Lower Hutt, with Lord Roberts, Seedling, Dardanus, Goldwell, White Nile, Hospodar, St. Vincent, Golden City, Lord Kitchener, Hometruth, Felspar, Lu casta. Two fine specimens of a pure white Leedsii, raised by Mr T. G. Maunder, were exhibited, while Mr H. J. Sharp, of Oratia, Auckland, exhibited a magnificent Leedsii variety by the name of Vera Bray destined to run Egmont Queen close for first place in growers’ favour; also an excellent trumpet variety like a huge Lord Roberts by the name of Owen Bray. He exhibited Glen Eden, a bi-colour trumpet of the style and colour of Conqueror, and Prospect, W. C. Sharp No. 1 Seedling, and Mrs H. E. Sharp.