HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS AND THE PUBLIC.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 17, 26 October 1910, Page 40

HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS AND THE PUBLIC.

Those who have seen horticultural displays in the Old Land must have been struck with the enthusiasm of the general publie for such, and when we seek to compare the very meagre attendance at our shows in the Dominion we are compelled to the conclusion there is something lacking either in our methods or in our patrons, or both. We may be told at the outset that it is useless comparing attendances at English exhibitions. where they have the population, with our Dominion, where such is lack ing. Quite true, and yet how comes it that in the Dominion the agricultural shows draw enormous crowds’ Now. it must be admitted at once, that the attendance of the general public at the Auckland shows is very small, and as sueh exhibitions depend largely on public patronage, no headway can be made unless the public can lie attracted in ever increasing numbers. The Auckland Hor-ti-ultural Society has carried on its various shows for years under many difficulties and many discouragements, which would have deterred many from going forward. One difficulty has been and still continues to be. a paucity of members, and consequent lack of needful funds; but the greatest difficulty has been in securing a proper hall in which a good exhibition could be successfully carried through. There are some who are looking forward to the completion of

the new Town Hall to provide a fitting place, while others think the proposed building to be erected by the Agricultural Association for their winter show may lie the very thing so long wanted; but, granted that either of these may lie suitable, there remains the question of how to attract the public. We have said before now. and again repeat it, our horticulturists are far too modest regarding their exhibitions. There is, for instance, nothing done to attract country people; no arrangement whatever for reduced fares—and while it must be admitted such exhibitions depend in the main on the support of townspeople, yet, by attracting the country folks to town, they interest the townsfolk in the subject, and so by this co-operation of town and country a much larger attendance could be secured. Many of our country people never see a

real horticultural display, ami we are sure many would avail themselves if opportunities were offered them. Again, there is always the desire for novelty to be taken into consideration, and an exhibition held within a hall year after year gets rather monotonous to the people whose attendance is desired; and. so far as we know, there is nothing better than to hold an exhibition within a large park, housing the exhibits in tents of different sizes to accommodate the various classes of exhibits. At sueh an exhibition demonstrations could la' given by experts on budding roses, grafting fruit trees, fertilising flowers ami vegetables, etc., ami in order to secure the crowds a cricket match or polo, or both, ami. possibly, horsq-jumping competitions, with the attendance of a first-class band, would be a necessity. An exhibition such as we have indicated might not be possible or desirable every year, but it might be a welcome change every third or fifth year, and the subject is worthy of the earnest consideration of our Horticultural Society. Tn another column we publish a report of the great show’ held at Shrewsbury, from which it

will be seen that no less than 80,000 persons attended the great fete in one day held last August.

VERONICA.