AUTUMN FLOWERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17966, 11 March 1930, Page 7

AUTUMN FLOWERS.

MAGNIFICENT DAHLIAS. VIVID DISPLAY Of COLOUR. ♦ ... TO-DAY’S HAMILTON SHOW. The claim which the rose has held through centuries as the queen of flowers is being seriously challenged by the dahlia. There is probably no flower that has received more attention from growers during the past few years than the dahlia. Its beauty is now regarded as unsurpased for colour, variety and form. It has become the world’s most fashionable flower and the one on which the greatest work is being done by culturists. It surpasses Princess Chrysanthemum in several ways, but particularly in the number of types and its marvellous colourings. A finer display can he made with fewer dahlias than with any other flowers and thus i’t comes about that the average autumn flower show is mainly an exhibition of ‘this beautiful species flora. ~ , To-day the Hamilton Horticultural Society, that idealistic little institution which' is striving to inculcate in the public a greater love of flowers, is holding its third show - of the year, and St- Peter’s Hall is a mass of vivid hue. The centre tables are devoted to dahlias, and are a veritable riot of colour. Some of the giant varieties are as large as small cabbages and their shades cause one to ponder on the marvels of nature. The blooms are ol' all sorts, shapes, sizes and shades and drew exclamations of admiration even from the judge, that well-known Auckland grower, Mr GW. Wright. Zinnias in Great Variety. Zinnias, too, are present in great variety and here again the colours are wonderful. Considerable progress has, in fact, been made with the Zinnia of recent years, and where they formerly were confined to about three shades, there must now he more than thirty. Finer specimens of both dahlias and Zinnias can, according to the judge, be seen in Hamilton than in Auckland. Mr Wright remarked that this district apparently must pay special attention to the culture of these two flowersThere are at the show, of course, many other varieties of cut blooms and in the section for various varieties the show- is magnificent. The children’s section, too, is one that calls for admiration on account of the artistry which the youngsters, .mostly from the Gordonton School have displayed. This phase of school life is one" to be encouraged as it not only engenders a love of nature and the beautiful but an appreciation of the value of colour blending and arrangement. There are a number of decorated floral hats present which would even grace some of our most select millinery establishments. The fruit and vegetable sections contain some splendid specimens- Although vegetables are not numerous, their quality is excellent.. There is a splendid show of apples which Mr. W. Runciman, a veteran judge, declared to be as fine as he had seen for quality. Wonderful Champions. Several championships were awarded for dahlias. The champion of champions was a magnificent brilliant lemon hybrid “Sole Mio,” exhibited by Nirs O’Sullivan, of Te Awamutu, a well-known grower and exhibitor. Mrs O’Sullivan also took the championship in the giant decorative class with her “Margaret Hennessey,” a large rose pink Hushed with yellow with a deeper yellow centre. The champion cactus was won by Mr A. W. Ward, who exhibits for the first time, with his “Samuel Sue,” a bloom with 'wonderful petalage of shell pink flushed* with lemon. Mrs H- M. Hammond secured 'the championship for peonies, with a wonderful bloom, known as Korine. A show of this kind throws a tremendous burden of work on the few willing people who lend practical aid. The preparation of the hall, the receiving of entries, the ticketing, checking and arrangement of the exhibits all take time and not a little labour, and to these workers the public owes a debt of thanks. In the forefront of the little army are _of course, the president and his wife, Mr and Mrs 0- L. Mac Diarmid, who have been ceaselessly on the job, and who have had able assistance from Mesdames 11. Toombs, 0. Sutcliffe, S. Simmons, H. J. Fcrgusson, F. D. Pinfold, P. Ceary, R. J. Nicholls, J- F. Strang, Cleland, MoAuliffc, Whittaker, Misses D. Yule and Meikle and Messrs li. M- Ilanunond, Clayton-Greene, WH. Udy, E. B. Quick. B. Bagley, E. A. Cox, C. Rose, and J. C. Nicholls, The judges of the various sections were: Dahlias and cut flowers, Mr GW. Wright, Auckland; fruit and vegetables, Mr W. Runciman, News lead; decorative section, Mrs M. Wells and* Miss Christophers, Cambridge. LIST OF AWARDS. Following are the results:— CHAMPION BLOOMS. Dahlias. Cactus: Mr A. W. Ward, Hamilton. Paconv: Mrs H. M. Hammond, Hamilton. Decorative class: Mrs O’Sullivan, Te Awamutu. Champion of champions: Hybrid Cactus, Solemio: -Mrs O’Sullivan, Te Awamutu. Cut Flowers. Collection of twelve varieties: Miss Finlayson, 1. Collection of , six varelies: Mrs Hammond, 1; Mrs Vpe Chilly, 2; Mrs Kendall, 3. Collection of three varieties: Mrs 11. M. Hammond, 1; Mrs McAuliffe, 2. Cannas, six stems: Mrs R. J. Nicholls, 1; Mrs P. E. Dingle, 2. Asters, six distinct blooms: Mrs Whittaker, 1. Asters, three distinct blooms: (Mrs 11. M. Hammond, 1; Mrs Whittaker, 2. Cosmos, twenty-four blooms: Mrs Davys, 2. Zinnias, twelve blooms: Mrs W. Runciman, 1; Mrs E. P. Cowles, 2. Zinnias. six blooms: Mrs W. Runciman, 1; Mrs S. Simmons, 2. Anlirrihiiiujiis, six spikes: Mrs Ryman, 2. Phlox Druinmondi, six colours: Mrs P. E. Dingle, i; -Mrs Milne, 2. Salvias, four spikes, any variety: Airs R. J. Nicholls, 2. Salvias, Bonfire, four spikes: Master Rogers, 1. Three varieties, flowering from foliage climbers, roses excluded: Mrs J. W. Walsh, j. ,\nv other flower: Mrs E. P. Cowles, 1; “Mrs McAuliffe, 2. Any other flower, novelty: Miss Vyncr, 1. Darinas. Open, decorative, twelve, varieties, one of each: Mrs O'Sullivan, 1. Decorative, six varieties: Mi’s O'Sullivan, 1; Mrs Tudhope, 2. Decorative, three (Continued in next column.)

varieties: Mrs IT. M. Hammond, 1; Mr A. W. Ward, 2. Cactus, three varieties: Mrs 11. M. Hammond, 1; Mr A. W. Ward, 2. Paeonv, six varieties: Mrs Tudhope, 1; Master Horace Gave, 2. Paeony, three varieties: Mrs 11. M. Hammond, 1; Master Horace Cave, 2. Decorative, six blooms: Mrs O’Sullivan, 1; Mrs Tudhope, 2. Pom Pom, three varieties: Miss Shirley Tudhope, 1. Open, six blooms, distinct: Mrs O’Sullivan, 1; Master David Tudhope, 2. Novice, decorative, six varieties: Mi’s E. A. Cox, 1. Novice, Paeony, three varieties: Master Horace Cave, 1. Novice, three distinct varieties: Master Horace Cave, 1; Mrs Ryman, 2. Decorative Section, Decorative table, any flowers, any foliage or berries: Nurse Hooker, i; Mrs. G. S. Hobbs, 2. Decorated table (girls under 18 years) : Miss Olive Land, 1. Dinner table bowl of flowers: Mrs. G. S. Hobbs, 1. Bowl of dahlias: Mrs. G. S. Hobbs, 1; Mrs. Ryman, 2. Floral basket: Nurse Hooker, 1; Mrs. Tlohbs, 2; Mrs. A. G. Bell, 3. Hat, completely covered with flowers or natural foliage: Miss Beryl Foster, 1; Miss G. Southgate, 2; Mrs. Whittaker, 3. Lady’s spray or buttonhole: Miss Gwen Foster, 1; Miss ■Beryl Foster, 2. Pedestal howl: Miss Meikle, 1; Mrs. Simmons, 2; Mrs. G. S. Ilobbs, 3. Bouquet, girls under 13 years (country class) : Sybil Cleland, 1. Bouquet, girls under 13: Elsie Strang, 1; Betty Johnston, 2; Sydney Strang, 3. Early Victorian posy, girls under 10 years: Nola England, 1 and 2; Joan Green, 3. Early Victorian posy, girls under 10 years (country class): Patty Gubb, 1; Koyhca ltiddinglon, 2; Jean O’Tlearn, 3. Basket of flowers, girls under 15 years: Sydney Strang, 1; Elsie Strang - , 2; Joyce Lewis, 3. Basket of flowers, girls under 15 years (country class): Jessie Riddington, 1; Edith Williamson. 2. Vegetables. Best collection, 12 varieties:.Mr. T. Saxton, Gordonton, 1. Collection of six varieties: Mr. B. C. Collins, 1. Collection of three varieties: Mr. R. Mears, 1; Mrs. Ross,'2. Vegetable marrow (table): Mr. Cowles, 1; .Master Hugh Mac Diarmid, 2; Mrs. Ross, 3. Table pumpkin: Master Hugh MacDiarmid, i; Mrs. Ross, 2. Potatoes, 12, one variety: Mr. McDowell, 1. Onions, six, one variety: Mr. B. G. C. Collins, 1. Onions, heaviest; Mr. B. Collins. Carrots, table, bunch of six: Mr. R. Mears, 1; Mr. McDowell, 2; Mr. .B. C. Collins, 3. Parsnips, hunch of six: Mr. B. C. Collins, 1; Mr. E. A. Cox, 2; Mr. R. Mears, 3. Beetroot, hunch of three: Master Adrian Cox, 1; Mr. McDowell, 2;, Mrs. W. Nicholls, 3. Swedes, table: Mrs. Ross, 1. Beans: French dwarf, 2 4 pods: Mrs. Coles, 1; Master Adrian Cox, 2. Beans, French runners, 24 pods: Miss Jean Gil Allan, 1; Mrs. J. W. Walsh, 2.' Sunflower, one head: Master Hugh Mac Diarmid, 1; Mrs. W. Nicholls, 2. Fruit. Open, Apples, 10 varieties, five of each: Mrs. Ross, 1. Apples, dessert, live of one variety: Mrs. G. B. MacDiarmid. 1. Apples, cooking, five of one variety: Mrs. Milne, J : Mrs. Simmons, 2: Mr. E. P. Cowles, 3. Apples, collection dessert, three varieties: Mrs. Morgan, J; Mrs. Ross, 2. Apples, collection cooking, three varieties: Mrs. Morgan, i; Mrs. Ross,. •2. Pears, one variety: Mrs. J. W. Walsh, i; Mr. R. Mears, 2. Tomatoes, plate of six: Mrs. Coles, 1; Mrs. E. A'. Cox, 2-; Mrs. Ross. 3. Cucumber, two of one variety: Mrs. Hammond, 1: Master Adrian Cox, 2. Peaches, five of one variety: Mrs. Milne, 1: Mrs. H. M. Hammond. 2; Mrs. Boss, 3. Collection of fruit: Mrs. Milne, 1. Lemons, plale of four, with foliage: Mrs. J. W. Walsh, i : Mr. E. A. Cox, 2 and 3. Rock melon: Mrs. W. Nicholls, i.