FLOWER SHOW.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3573, 6 October 1916, Page 3

FLOWER SHOW.

RAKAIA SOCIETY'S EXHIBITION.

The annual flower show, under the auspices of the Rakaia Horticultural Society, wa,s held in the Rakaia Town Hall yesterday afternoon and evening, and was well attended. '

The display was most comprehensive, and the hall Was not a bit too largo to show the numerous exhibits to the best advantage. The society aimed'to incorporato with its annual flower shows,, samples of home industries, also plain and fancy needlework, and, in consequence of the keen competition in these sections, a considerable amount of space was required, to set out the exhibits. Each year sees new competitors in the field, and it can be safely said that yesterday's show constitutes a record In the history of the society. ■ 'The season is now rather late for ■ flowering bulbs, but nevertheless several j competitors came forward with some very fine specimen biooms. Mr Stanley Smith, of ,M<sthven, had -\ o.i view, a very nice;display ■•■■of- 120 varieties of daffodils; including:the,following varieties':—Dorothy Kingswill, Great Marley, Peter Baxr, Cleopatra, Hamlet, Lonia Doone, Cassandra, Baracole, and Wliibe Queen. .The exhibits showed evidence of very careful cultivation and were a great credit to the,exhibitor, who, no doubt, had difficulty in making a selection so late in the season. - ' ■ ~ The chief feature of the'cut flower section was the magnificent display of primroses. which would have i done "- credit to a much larger show.' The exhibit of -Mrs Strainger included upwaa-ds of -20 varieties, which were well grown ■ami shown" to the best advantage. The other competitors—Mrs Tavenor, Miss Goodwin, and Mr R. I. Reach—also exhibited some very nice blooms.

The,district \va.s very well represented in exhibits ,of wallflowers. A consid-. erable. portion oi' the space in the centre of the hall was devoted to flowering shrubs sent along for exhibition only by Mrs Holmes and tho.Hon. C. A. C. Hardy. Mr F. Sa.unders also exhibited a great variety,, of cut -flowers. Entries in pot plants, with the; exception of asparagus, were 1 not large. The same may apply to collection^. of hyacinths, but in the latter case,'.the late-' ness of the season was responsible for the small entry. The show was fairly strong .in. exhibits of anemones and tulips. Exhibits of pansies and violas were numerous, and some choifie specimens were 'shown. The decorative classes were keenly contested, and some of the competitors showed exquisite taste in arranging the flowers to the best advantage. The. vases of flowers, bridal bouquets, and_ button-holes, and bore evidence of artistic taste. Several ■entries were received in the table decor-' ation classes, and the, prizes for these were awarded by public vote. | ! The display of vegetables was no doubt a surprise to , many visitors, • particularly the rhubarb, spring onions, - broccoli, and aspnragiis. Good'''entries •'"■/were"' received in these classes, -and the exhibits were well grown. The collection of vegetables brought- out one competitor, which is only to bo expected at this season of the year. A feature of the home industries classes was the good entries in jams, ■butteiy.a.nd homecured bacon. Although the;,latter Was judged by appearance,,it4s«*:aj'e-to say,, that a rasher, together with one of the. large lien eggs exhibited, would make the foundation of a. very appetising breakfast. The Rakaia ladies also appear to specialise in. tomato sauce; and m this direction keen competition was manifest. The needlework section had many features to justify its-inclusion in a flower show schedule, and.the exhibits were probably more carefully examined by visitors than many of the flowers. The schedule aims at utility in preference to fancy work, and it was pleasing to note the thoroughness and care which had been taken in preparing the exhibits. The following were the successful exhibitors:— F towers. Foliage pla,nts (1): Miss Goodwin 1. Pot plants (amateurs only), Frcezeas (3): Mrs J. Mead 1, Mrs H. Palmer,2. Asparagus (4): Mrs W. Palmer 1, Mrs F. 'Behrns 2. Any other variety Pot Plant in flower (2): Miss M. Street 1 and 2. Collection of Pot Plants (1): Mrs W. Palmer-1.

Cut Flowers (open class).—Collection oi" Narcissi (2): Mrs S. Smith ]„. Mrs H. Palnier 2. Narcissi Pocticu.s Bur•'" bidgco(l): Mrs H.. Palmer 1. Collection of Hyacinths (1): R. H. Gainsford ■1. Cut Blooms, collection (1): Mrs H. Palmer 1. Collection Flowering Shrubs (1): Mrs J. Snwden ]. Amateur Class.—Narcissi, 24 varieties (2): Mrs S Smith 1, Mrs H. Palmer 2. Narcissi; 12 varieties -(2): Mrs J. Straingcr 1. Narcissi, G varieties (2): Mrs J. Strainger 1, Mrs Blakiston 2. Hyacinths (2): R. H. Gainsford 1. Anemones, collection (4): It. Breach 1, Mrs It. Taylor 2. Tulips (4)": Lt. Breach 1, Mrs J. Strningor 2.. Primroses or Polyanthus. IS; varieties (1): Mrs J. Sti'aingcr I. Primroses, 12 varieties, Mrs 3. Strainger 1, Mrs'Ta.veneiv 2. Primroses, 6 varieties, Miss Goodwin 1, It. Breacli 2. Psinsies, (5 varieties (6): L. Satmders 1, Mrs J. Strainger 2. Pansies (collection of ■ one .each)—» (5): L. Saunders 1, Mrs W. Palmer 2." Wallflowers, collection (7): Mrs Gould 1, Miss M. Street 2. Stocks, collection (1): G-. Clark 1. Cut Blooms, collection (o): Mrs W. Palmer 1, Mrs W. Boag 2. Bowl of Daffodils (4): Miss T. Clark 1, Miss E. Holmes 2. • Three vases for dfcoj'ative effect (4): Miss D. Holmes 1, Miss E. Saunders 2. 'Bridal Bouquet ' (2) : Miss, A. Edgington 1, 'Miss E. Saunders 2. Decorated Basket (3): Miss D. Holmes l v Miss AY Edgington 2. Wreath (4): Mrs Penny 1, Miss E. Saunders 2. Gentleman's Buttonhole (6): Miss IX. Holmes 1, Miss C. Edgington 2. Lady's Spray (3): Miss E. Saunders 1, Miss C. Edgington 2. Vegetables.. i Collection (1): E. Inwood 1. Asparagus (4): A. C. Mead I: Rhubarb (8): Miss Goodwill' 1, Miss S. E. Smith 2. Broccoli (2): It. Moodie/ junr., ■ 1, E. Inwood 2. Spring Onions (7): L. Saunders 1, A. C. Mead 2": Carrots (5): E. Inwood 1, D. Turnbull 2. Potatoes (19): Mrs W. Palmer 1, Mrs R. Taylor 2. Onions (3): G. Clark 1, Miss T. Clark 2. Miscellaneous. Hen Eggs (white). (5): Mrs J. Mead 1, Mrs Tavcner 2. Hen Eggs (tinted), ;(7): Mrs J. H., Cornelius 1,, Mrs J. Mead and J\lrs J. H t Cornelius tied for second placed !Ducli-'Ka;gs (2) A. Haslett 1, A. Weaver--S-. Duck Eggs (Aylcsbury) v (1) : Mrs W . J. Breading 1 . Pair Dressed Ducks (1): Mrs W- J. Breading 1. Home-cured Ham (5); Mrs

Travella, 1, -Mrs W. Palmer 2. Home- ' cured Side Bacon (1): Mrs J. Mead 1, Shoulder of Bacon (3): A. Gordon 1, R. Taylor 2. Marmalade (7): Miss Goodwin 1, M:iss P. Holmes 2. Homemade Jam (2): Mrs Travella 1. Jelly (2): Mrs Penny 1, R. Taylor 2. Bottled Fruit (I):' Mrs Travella. 1. Pickles (2): Mrs W. Palmer 1 and 2. Tomato] Sauce (8): Mrs J. Sowden 1, Mrs F. | Behrns 2. Dairy Butter (4): Miss Goodwin 1, Mrs J. J. Johnston 2. Separator Butter (10): Mrs !'\ Behrns 1. Apples (1): G. Clark 1. • Needlework. * ' Patch (2): Mrs-G.B. Edwards 1, Mrs W.: PalmeiV 2. Darning, Sock (5): Miss B. Hardy 1, Mrs Penny 2. Darning! Table Linen (4): Mrs H. Palmer 1, Miss T. Clark 2. Pair Hand-knitted : Socks (7): Miss Goodwin 1, Miss D.I Holmes 2. Drawn-thread work (2): Mrs Skinner 1, Mrs Tayener 2. Child's Smocked Frock (1): Mrs Berendson 1. Mountmellick Work (2): Mrs Penny 1 and 2. Knitting, wool (4): Mrs W. Palmer 1. Knitting, cotton (2)^ Mrs. E. Duncan 1, Mrs Tavener 2. Crochet Work, wool'(l).: Mrs J. J. Johnston 1, Crochet work, cotton ,(5): Miss Wool-i idge 1 arid. 2. " ■ \, • ■■> Specimen • Wood Carving—Master Gordon 1. , ,