TO SECRETARIES OF HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 4, 26 January 1910, Page 39

TO SECRETARIES OF HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

We shall be pleased to publish dates of proposed exhibitions free of charge, and invite all Secretaries to inform us of dates by sending schedules. March 9, lO—Napier Horticultural Society. J. H. J. Murdoch, Secretary. JU Wellington Rose and Carnation Club. CARNATION AND SWEET PEA SHOW R LOWER lovers in Wellington have become so used to storms at Christmas time, that the success of the January Show is always considered doubtful. This season has been no exception, as what the terrific storm on Christmas Day left undone, a howling nor’-wester a few days later tried to accomplish. Unfortunately earnations suffered to such an extent, that only blooms of very indifferent quality were staged at the Show held last Wednesday, while the quantity was also reduced to a minimum. So bad were the effects of these two storms, that at one time it looked as though this year’s Show would have to be abandoned. Fortunately sweet peas recover quickly, and make fresh growth very rapidly under proper care. To such an extent was this the case, that the Show just held, although essentially a sweet pea exhibition, was a pronounced success. Aibout 500 vases of sw’eet peas were entered for competition, while a side exhibit of sweet peas fromu Mr. G. C. Holder of Porirua, containing 3500 blooms of the latest and best varieties, assisted to make the Show a memorable one. At the three previous Summer Shows, exhibitors had quite excelled themselves in the production of “Waved Standard” varieties, but this year a wide improvement was noticeable, owing to the fact that all the peas shown, were of the

“Spencer Type,” and an evenness of quality made the Judge’s duties any thing 'but a sinecure. Mr. C. Trevethiek secured the £lO 10/ trophy for 12 vases of sweet peas with waved Standards for the second time, so that it now becomes his property, Mr. G. C. Holder, of Porirua, coming second with a splendid exhibit, and Mr. H. A.

Fox third, while Mr. J. J. Kerslake’s unplaced exhibit was also well worthy of mention so good were his blooms. Mr. G. C. Holder secured first, and Mr. H. A. Fox second in the class for 6 vases, distinct varieties of Waved Standards, Mr. Fox securing Ist in the 3 Vase Class. As an indication of the excellence of the blooms staged, it may be remarked

that in Mr. Fox’s vase of “The King” in the Cup class, no leading flower on any spike of bloom measured less than two inches across—most of them measured 2j inches—while on immense bloom of perfect shape measured 21 inches across—'the colour being intense crimson. The same exhibitor staged a magnificent vase of "Helen Lewis,” and another of “Mrs. Hardcastle Sykes,” both of which were the production of New Zealand grodn seed, showing that this country ean produce equally as fine seed when carefully selected as ean be produced from the Old Country; in fact a great percentage of blooms come from locally produced seed, while the show as a whole was notorious for blooms measuring from 2 to 2| inches across. Blooms of “Helen Lewis,” “Mrs. Hard-

castle Sykes,” “John Ingman” and “Evelyn Hemus,” predominated, while amongst the new varieties, “The King” (crimson), “Paradise Ivory” (cream tinged with faint pink), “Syeira Lee” (a new and beautiful shade of pink), “Mrs. Routzahil” (cream suffused pink) “Zezhyr” (pale blue), and “Earl Spencer” (salmon flame), a great improve-

ment on Henry Eekford) were most noticeable. Most of the sweet peas were very attractively set up. some with Perennial Gypsophilia, and others with light grasses intermixed with the blooms, causing them to show to considerable advantage, and as all the vases were staged on tables painted green, and three tiers high, the effect was very tine. Roses staged for competition were fewin number, but some very nice blooms for this time of year competed, the same remarks applying to Cactus Dahlias. Bellevue Gardens contributed a choice exhibit of roses and cactus dahlias, for exhibition only, while Mr. Henry Wright of Newtown showed over 100 excellent blooms of Pom Pom, Show, and Cactus

Dahlias, not for competition. The displays of pot plants made by Miss Duncan and Mr. Poole were veryattractive, while Messrs. Cooper and Sons’, and Jackson and Sons’ exhibits also added greatly to the general display. Ladies’ decorated tables occupied the centre of the hall and were greatly admired, the general public being particularly interested, as every visitor had a vote, the prizes being awarded by popular ballot. Following, we give the prize list: — Roses (open section). —Twelve disdinct varieties: C. P. Skerrett. Six roses: C. P. Skerrett. Amateur section —Three assorted H.P. and H.T.: P. W. Skelley. Three reds: P. W. Skelley 1, C. Trevethiek 2. Three assorted: R. Hirschberg 1. C. Trevethiek 2. Three teas (any colour) : C. Trevethiek 1, P. W. Skelley 2. Cactus dahlias (open section). —Collection six blooms, any varieties: Mrs. Abbott. Amateur section—Twelve blooms (not less than six varieties) : A. J. Smith. Six blooms (other than selfs) : A. J. Smith. Three blooms (separate varieties) : H. A. Fox 1, Miss J. Tavlor 2, Sweet peas (open section) —Collection of 12 varieties, distinct, winner to bold £lO 10/ trophy: C. Trevethiek 1, G. C. Holder 2, H. A. Fox 3. Six varieties waved standard peas: G. C. Holder 1, H. A. Fox 2. Collection three varieties sweet peas, distinct: H. A. Fox. One vase with waved standards, white: H. A. Fox: with waved standards, pink, H. A. Fox; with waved standards, rose shade. C. Trevethiek; with waved standards, orange shade, 11. A. Fox; with waved standards, crimson or scarlet. H. A. Fox; with waved standards, yellow ground, pink edge, C. Trevethiek;’ with waved standards, white ground, pink edge, C. Trevethiek: with waved standards, lavender or blue shades, H. A. Fox; any other colour, J. J. Kerslake. One vase, white, cream, or yellow: J. J. Kerslake. One vase, orange shades: C. Trevethiek. One vase, crimson, scarlet, pink, or rose shades: C. Trevethiek.

One vase, pale blue, lavender, mauve, darker blue, or purple: H. A. Fox. One vase maroon or bronze: H. A. Fox. One vase, any other colour: J. J. Kerslake. Sweet peas: Novice section—Six vases sweet peas, with waved standards, distinct: Miss Ivy France. Three vases, one distinct variety in each-Mrs. W. R. Plimmer. One vase sweetpeas, waved standards, any colour: Miss Ivy France. One vase sweet peas orange shades, Mrs. R. W. Plimmer; one vase sweet peas, any other colour: Mrs. W. 11. Plimmer.

Pansies (amateurs only).—Six selfs, one colour: Mrs. W. L. James. 'Six, any other variety: Mrs. James. Orchids (open).—H. Poole. Carnations (open section), six blooms, yellow or buff ground fancies.—Distinct varieties: A. Laurenson, 1; G. Jeffrey, 2- Six blooms, distinct varieties: H. A. Fox, 1; G. Jeffrey, 2. Six bloms, picotees, distinct: G. Jeffrey. Three blooms, distinct varieties: H. A. Fox. Twelve

blooms, distinct varieties, including two flakes or bizarres: G. Jeffery. Six blooms, perpetuals, any variety: G. Jeffery, 2. Carnations (amateur section).—Twelve earnations arranged in three vases, each containing four different colours: Mrs. Harry Gore. Twelve carnations or pieotees, distinct varieties: Mrs. C. W. Tringham. Six carnations, distinct varieties: Mrs. R. Hirschberg. Three flakes and bizarres, distinct varieties: Mrs R. Hirsch berg. Three flakes or bizarres, any variety: Mrs. R. Hirschberg. Three selfs, any colour, distinct varieties: Mrs. R. Hirschberg. Three selfs, any colour or colours: Mrs. R. Hirschberg. Three fancies, yellow or buff ground, any colour or colours: Mrs. R.

Hirschberg. Three fancies, other than yellow- or buff ground, distinct varieties, Mrs. R. Hirschberg. Three fancies other than yellow or buff ground, any colour or colours, Mrs. R. Hirschberg. Three picotees, white ground, any colour or colours: Mrs. R. Hirschberg. Three picotees, yellow ground, distinct varieties: Mrs. R. Hirschberg. Threepieotees, yellow ground, any colour or colours: Mrs. R. Hirschberg. Three carnations, any colour or colours: Mrs. R. Hirschberg. Miscellaneous section. —‘Six exotic ferns: Miss Ethel Dunean. Three foliage plants, distinct: H. Poole. Three coleus: Miss Ethel Duncan. Three asparagoid: Miss Ethel Duncan- Three palms: H. Poole. Three maidenhair ferns, any variety:

Miss E. Duncan. One aspidistra: Mrs. Abbott. Best pot plant in flower: H. Poole. Ladies’ Section.—Vase of six distinct varieties of sweet peas, artistically arranged: Mrs. H. L. James, 1; Miss H. R. Hodge, 2. Bowl of roses, artistically arranged: Mrs. H. L. James, 1; Mrs. Plimmer, 2. Bouquet of earnations or picotees: Mrs. H. L. James. Vase of earnations or picotees: Mrs. H. L. James, 1; Mrs. Gay, 2. Bouquet of sweet peas:

Mrs. 11. L. James. Spray of sweet peas: Mrs H. L. James, 1; Mrs. R. W. Plimmer 2. Collection of twelve vases cut blooms, each vase distinct species: Miss Ethel Duncan, 1; Jessie Taylor 2. Children's Section (girls under 15). — Bouquet of flowers: Maggie Poole. Vase of carnations, or picotees: Marie Pyke, 1; Maggie Poole, 2. Vase of sweet peas: Maggie Poole. Three buttonholes: Maggie Poole, 1 and 2.