Our Illustrations

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 3, 20 January 1909, Page 2

Our Illustrations

WELLINGTON ROSE AND CARNATION CLUB'S CARNATION AND SWEET PEA SHOW. The chib's summer show this year proved quite equal in all respects to its predecessors. Carnations are always a great attraction, and, with the lovely varieties of sweet peas now in commerce, exhibitors are able to put up some particularly line displays. The roses exhibited were remarkably good for this time of the year, Mr. Hirschberg securing the special prize with three good blooms, •‘Betty’’ being quite an especial feature of his exhibit. Cactus dahlias were tew in number; in fact, the season is a late one here for dahlias. A nice exhibit was staged by Bellevue Gardens, while Miss Taylor’s champion bloom of “J. 11. Jackson’ was also a very line one. In earnations, about 1000 blooms were staged, Air. 11. A. Fox winning the champion prize for “best earnation in the show'" with a very fine bloom of “Lara.’’ The same exhibitor staged over 100 blooms in competition, including some superb white ground picotecs, the .best of which were Mrs. (I. Baillie and Rev. Godby. The former is a bloom of exceptional substance, with narrow purple eldgc, and while of excellent type it has the merit of coming fully three inches in diameter. This exhibitor also showed some very line Yellow Ground Fancies. Competition was very keen in the amateur ami novice sections of carnations, but there is room lor considerable improvement here to which the club will do well to give its attention, with the object of encouraging exhibitions to reach greater perfection with their blooms, and a better style of setting same up. In this section, Mr. J. B. Finlay was awarded the prize for premier bloom with a real good specimen of "Mrs. 11. Baillie (White Ground, Picotee),” Mr. F. Gale winning the silver rose bowl with 30 points for most successful amateur exhibitor, Mr. J. B. Finlay coming second with 20 points. In the novice section, Mrs. 11. D. Crawford’s exhibits were certainly the best, but this exhibitor would do well to cultivate a greater variety in future. Messrs. Jeffery and Laurenson’s table of about 250 fine earnation blooms “for exhibition only,’’ was greatly admired, as also was another table of over 200 carnation blooms staged by Bellevue Gardens. Sweet peas certainly held the pride of place in the show. Air. C. Trevethiek was the most successful exhibitor, winning the £lO 10/- solid silver trophy for 12 vases distinct varieties. His exhibit contained some wonderfully good blooms of Airs. Hardcastle Sykes, Evelyn Henins, John Ingman, and many other well-known varieties. His exhibit staged "not for competition’’ was a real treat, and earned the remark from the judge that it was the finest exhibit of sweet peas ever staged by one exhibitor in New Zealand. Air. J. J. Kerslake’s exhibit of--9 vases for the Sydenham, Ltd. (Birmingham), silver trophy was good; his • vase of "Helen Lewis' being about the best of its kind in the show. The National Sweet. Pea Society’s Silver Medal was awjirded io Air. IT. A. Fox’s six vases of 'Waved Standards, while J. Wyn frwin secured Evans rfnd Sons’ silver cup for six vases peas grown from their seed. The most prominent varieties of sweet peas shown were; John Ingman, Helen Lewis, Countess Spencer, Mrs. Hardcastle Sykes, Elsie Herbert, Evelyn Henins, Etta Dyke, Primrose Spencer, Frank Dolby, and Phenomenal. Ladies’ decorated tables, which are usually a very'.strong class, were few in number, but all were very pretty. The prizes were awarded by ballot as follows: Ist Airs. A. Lanrepson, 2nd Airs. James, 3rd Aliss Olive Spilman, 4th Airs. Jefferey. Air. IT. Poole exhibited some nice orchids, and made a real good display of palms, ferns, ami pot plants. Messrs. Cooper, Ltd., also had an attractive trade exhibit.

The judges were: Sweet pehs, Air. E. Anstis; carnations, roses, and dahlias, Mr. 8. Con-ins, oi Dunedin,