WANGANUI HORTICULTURAL SHOW.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10504, 27 November 1901, Page 2

WANGANUI HORTICULTURAL SHOW.

SPRING SHOW.

The Spring Show of the Wanganui Horticultural and General Produce Society was opened in the Drill Hall this (Wednesday) afternoon, when there was a fair attendance of the public. The exhibits, as a whole, compared well with former Shows, although in classes there was a falling-off and an inferiority. To a great extent this was attributable to the unseasonableness of the weather. We missed the names of Mrs White, and Messrs G. Smith, H. M. Williams, R. Hughes, and others in the catalogue of entries. Tlie absence- of these well-known enthusiasts in horticulture wa3 undoubtedly responsible for the small entries in the vegetable classes, as Messrs Williams, Smith/and Hughes have, in the past, made features of the Show with their splendid collections. Probably the paucity of entries may be Sue to the fact of the' prizes being reduced and the entrance money, both for members and exhibitors, having been increased- since the last Show, -and these are matters that should engage the serious attention of the Committee. We are always pleased to see outside exhibitors, and -in this respect Messrs Weightman and Sons, of the Sherwood Nurseries, Awahuri, are weU-ome. Their exhibits make a valuable addition to the Show. Mr Willis, as usual, is one of tho largest exhibitors, haying 49 entries — mostly pot plants. His plants did not appear to be as numerous or as well .shown as previously, but were nevertheless, very fine and a great feature in the Show. He had four orchids in bloom, one of which — Laelea P&rtratea — a white and mauve, was very nuch admired. The gloxinias had suffered somewhat in the removal to the Show room. The other plants, petunias, pelargoniums, calceolarias, coleus, geranium, and* foliage begonias • were vary showy. -He also exhibited a musa ansete '(banana) plant, very handsome" umbrella grass and ferns. Roses made *._ very striking exhibition. Messrs VV'eigatman and Sons had, as usual, a capital lot— eight dozen being staged for exhibition. They were' a very welljrown .selection and much 'admired, aotwithstanding that they must have juffered somewhat from a very heavy hailstorm which caught them on Sunlay last. • The white .and pink maman rochet blooms looked as well as any. Other prominent varieties were white Perle, Mrs Robert Garrett (new), Madame G-. Boutmar (new), Madame .Louie Gravier, R. E. Yon KesselstaS (a. uew tea rose, a rich, pink, shading away to yellow at the base of the petals— a fety chaste lose), Madame Reine de St. Marceau, also a new and very pretty tea rose, somewhat of an orange-shad-ad salmon. Zephyr (a sulphur-yellow tea), Viscountess Folkstone, a nice xeam pearl, and many other varieties. We must congratulate our visitors for :he excellence of their roses. Messrs Laird and Sons, of the Egmont and Virginia Nurseries, 'Wanganui, wfere, however, not going to be outdone by their visitors, and had a great show to" uphold the honour of Wanganui. They ippeared to have gone- to considerable trouble in the selection of the' best /arieties and the bringing of them to a _;ood Show condition. Amongst the .nany varieties shown, Mrs John Laing (h.p.), pink, appeared to be one >f the most prominent and a fine bloom it was. A pink maman cochet (tea) was ilso greatly admired. Amongst the best ji the others, we would single out Gustavo Piganneau, h.p., red; The Bride, tea, white; Caroline.. Testaut, h.p., oink; Paul Neron (a .big r»3e); Victor Hugo (a dark rose); Boule de Niege, li.p., white; Duke of Wellington, dark red; Sir Robert Stout,'- dark red; Spencer, h.p., blurh; Clio,' h.p., nearly >vhite; Mrs R. S. G. Crawford, delicate pink, and Snsanne Marie Rodo-Caucui, i rose pink. The collection, as a whole, ..vould take, some beating. Mr George Walker also had a few fine blooms, and i good collection of twenty-four for competition. Mr J. T. Sinclair's exhibit is, as usual, a most prominent one, and consists of a number of floral designs, treated in his usual artistic style, and relieved with green moss .and foliage. A ship, lyre, harp, and floral cushion are the .most notable, the former being a decided novelty! Mr Sinclair has backed up his exhibit by a nice display of palms, including one or two specimens of a variety indigenous to South America.

The cut-flower section was strong, and produced a good deal of competition and good blooms. Messrs Weightman and Sons' were prominent in the collection, with three dozen varieties, 'including specimens of tlie "Thalic'tuunU' a pretty and novel fibrousrooted perennial; Eennedia . Tripholi- . ata, a new hardy brick-red creeper; also the' beautiful Baxgainvillea creeper nymnhla alba (water lily). Many Other exhißite were , well-shown. The floral devices, including a well and cleverlymade "ping pong"^ set, an anchor (chain made of rose-buds), whilst bouquets, lady's sprays, and buttonholes, produced some good work and chaste blending of colours, and the judges no doubt had a hard task to come to their decision.

Mrs Earle had some splendid specimens of New Zealand ferns, also palms and decorative plants, and made one of the most striking features of the show. Mr Cameron also had an excellent display of exotic ferns. Eleven entries were received for the table decorations, and the public will decide by votes which is the. best. They are all certainly very chaste, and the choice will be 'a difficult matter.

Mr Tawse, of Kai Iwi, sent a collection of outdoor-grown cinerarias. - They were well-grown and excellent specimens for outdoor culture.

Mrs Poynter exhibited, a very tasty . basket of flowers. The hand bouquets were not so "good as on some -previous occasions, but the buttonholes were a grand lot:- delicate and chaste; and the judge was almost in despair. Eventually he came down to two, and finally awarded the palm to Miss B. Cutfield, for as pretty a little specimen as one may wish to set. The second— Misa Carley'e — was more delicate, but not quite so- richas the winner's. Both, however, were real beauties, as indeed "were several others of the 24 entered. Mrs Freethy's lady's Bpray was the best put together. This lady has now won four first prizes consecutively in this class. There were a number of other chaste specimens entered. Mr Ernest Laird's Dridal bouquet deserves special mention, and was worthy of an experienced hand.

The fruit class was weak as a whole. Mrs Poynter showed some fine specimens of indoor-grown tomatoes, and Mr J. H. Kidd also had a most creditable §late of the same fruit. Mr P. L. ameron made a feature of strawberries, and had one plate of especially fine improved Marguerites. Mr Cameron mentioned that he has 1 had this variety weigh, as heavy as - 16 to the pound. The same 'exhibitor also had in pots specimen plants o? a new late -Japanese strawberry, recently imported by him, his aim being to cultivate more especially very early and very late varieties. These plants in pots wore but nine months old, and had been in pots three months only, and looked exceedingly fine considering these facts. Messrs Watson Bros, had for exhibition some gigantic samples of Marguerites, matured and luscious-looking. Fair samples of cherries, red currants, and gooseberries were .shown. Miss M. E. Liffiton had a plate of excellent ' lemons, and it was astonishing that suck fine lemons could be grown on a sandy soil. It merely demonstrates what may be done with care and attention. Mr J. Freethy had a plate of the hybrid "primus" berry, a cross between a blackberry and raspberry. The fruit was much larger- than either a raspberry or blackberry, black and solid ■in appearance, 'and very useful for .cooking. _We understand it 'is very prolific, " and should ■be very "generally "cultivated in the near future. .The same gentleman also exhibited a branohing' .cane of the" now Columbia raspberry." This varfety grows wonderfuHy'strong, and fruits well. "Well cultivated, the-" „ canes grow to eighteen feet high, fruiting all the way. It doeß not sucker, but is propagated from the "tips. _ In conifers, Messrs Laird and. Sons, had a fine range of useful. kinds, selected from the best "the world over. They ! included "Abies Douglassi," "Eetrio- . spora," "Cryptomaria, and many other varieties. They were well grown, and made a fine show. . Home industries were not as numerous in exhibits as we would have'wished to have seen. Mrs Sewell had a very good collection of biscuits, but there was no competition. There were two in _ for bottled fruits,, both splendid exhibits — Mrs MoMurray and Mrs Sewell. The' letter's were very clear and freshlooking, although one lot had been, bottled in 1897 — four years ago. Mrs J. Signal was awarded first prize • for home-made bread in a class of. four entries. - There were only two entrants for jam 1 , Sfcrs McMurray being the winner; Mrs Kurth second. Cakes had a very poor entry, most of the classes having only one competitor. Mrs Enderby upheld her reputation for buttermaking, and was awarded first prize. - Vegetables were few in number, but good in quality. The exhibits of lettuce, rhubarb, and onions were quite up to tho. average, whilst the potatoes nfnst be regarded as excellent, conaiderxng all things. , , , The following is the PRIZE LIST POT PLANTS. wfnfsT 8 ' floweri »r^ee)._A. D. wfltß" 8 ' fQlia S c («Pccimen)._A. D .

Cannons 1

Begonias, foliage (three).— A. D. Willis 1, Mrs Jefferson 2. Begonias, collection.— A. D. Willis 1. Cactus, one.— E. Morgan 1. Calceolaria, one.— A. D. Willis 1, Jesse Cannons 2. Calceolaria, three. — A. D. Willis ], Jesse Cannons 2. • Calceolaria, sir. — A. D. Willis 1. Ferns, specimen. — Mrs Earle 1, Jas. Cannons 2 and h.c, H. C. Field c. Ferns, exotic, three. — Jas. Cannons 1, H .C. Field 2. Ferns, native, three.— Mrs Earle 1, A. D. Willis 2. Ferns, collection. — Jas. Cannons 1, Mrs Earle 2. Fuchsia, specimen, single. — A. D. Willis 1. Geranium, three, single.— A. D. Willis 1. Gerauium, three, doiible. — A. D. Willis 1. Geranium, ivy leaf.— A. D. Willis -I,Jesse Cannons 2. 'Gloxinia, specimen. — A. B. Willis 1 and 2. Gloxinia, three.— A. D. Willis, 1 and 2. . Hydrangia, best in pot. — A. D. Willis 1 and 2. Lycopodium, specimen. — Mrs Babbage 1, H. C. Field 2. • Stimulus, one. — Mrs Holland 1, A. D. Willis 2. Mimulns, three.— A. D. Willis" 1, Mrs Holland 2. Musk, yellow.— Mrs Lockhart 1, Mrs A. S. Laird 2, Miss Cooper h.c, Mrs Holland c. Orchid, one. — A. D. Willis 1. Orchid, three.— A. D. Willis 1. Palm, specimen. — Mrs Earle 1. , Palms, three.— Mrs Earle. Pelargonium, specimen. — A. D. Willis 1. Pelargonium, three, show. — A. D. Willis 1. ' ■ Pelargonium, collection. — A. D. Wil-" lia. Petunia, specimen. — A. D. Willis 1, Jespc Cannons 2? Petunia, three, single.— A. D. Willis Petunia, three, double.— A. D. Willis" 1. h Specimen Plant. — A. D. Willis 1, Miss Holman 2. Collection Pot Plants. — A.' D. Willis 1. Specimen Plant, foliage. — A. D. Willis 1. ■ . -■ Collection Foliage Plants. — A. D. Willis 1, Jas. -Cannons 2.