RELIEF WORKERS' GARDENS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21416, 7 March 1935, Page 10

RELIEF WORKERS' GARDENS

VEGETABLE GROWERS' CONTEST JUDGES' DECISION Each year the vegetable-growing competition organised among relief workers is assuming added importance. The judges for the present season have now issued their decision and indicate that they are more than pleased with the results. The results, which were announced yesterday by Mr M. J. Barnett, the superintendent of reserves, whu judged the gardens with Messrs Grimley and E. Taylor, are as follows: District No. 1 (City, Sydenham, Addington, and Waltham) —W. Hogwood, 93 Kilmore street, 83 points, 1; F. L. Whales, 15 Austen street, 78J, 2; H. J. Watts, 37 Coleridge street, 78, 3. District No. 2 (Spreydon, Beckenham, St. Martins, and Opawa)—J. A. Schultz, 113 Opawa road, 76 points, 1; J. T. Carlyle, 71 Corson avenue, 71, 2. District No. 3 (Wools ton, Lin wood, Avonside, and North Richmond) —F. W. Priest, 58 Patten street, 78 points, 1; W. Marsden, 28 Chelsea street, 75, 2; A. S. Drury, 23 Barton street, 74£, 3. District No. 4 (Riccarton, Fendalton, St. Albans, and Papanui)—W. J. McLaughlin, 29 Taylor's road, 86 points, 1; C. E. Shaw, 86 Flockton street, 77, 2; W. H. Jones, 19 Dormer street, 73, 3. District No. 5 (Bromley, Aranui, Burwood, and New Brighton)—J. J. Tudhope, 31 Pannell avenue, 63 points, 1. Judge's Comment In commenting on the results, Mr Barnett said he was more than pleased at the success of the competition, which was inaugurated three years ago by the Garden Allotments Committee. He explained that the various districts were drawn up ,so that the various classes of land should be grouped as near as possible. This year the same procedure as last year had been followed, except that the number of districts had been reduced from six to five on account of the difficulty in getting funds for prizes. The committee was a purely voluntary organisation, and any fu..ds it had came from donations. The committee purchased seeds and manures at as low a price as possible and retailed them to the unemployed, in many cases at lower than cost price. In the matter of selling seeds at a reduced price the Seedsmen's Association had been particularly helpful. This year the number of entries, 55, was somewhat lower than last year, but that was accounted for by the dry season. Praise for Men The judging, however, had shown that in many cases the quality of the vegetables and the general appearance of the gardens reflected great credit on the men and proved that they had gone to a great deal of trouble, Mr Barnett said. In fact, in some cases the gardens were a distinct improvement on last year's showing. He had no hesitation in saying that some of the gardens were an inspiration in showing what could be done, even in a dry season.

The points were awarded on the following basis:—Cultivation 20, quality 25, succession of crops 20, number of varieties 10, lay-out design 15, neatness 10. The flower garden was taken into account only in the case of a tie, when the front garden was the deciding factor. This year there had been one tie. The main object of the committee was to encourage the men to grow vegetables for their own use, so that they would be assured of fresh vegetables throughout the year. Detailed Comment Mr Barnett referred to the prizewinning gardens as follows: — Section I—Mr Hogwood's garden right in the city was a model of cultivation, with a good succession of clean vegetables. "Ir Hogwood stated that he trenched his ground three feet deep every second year. Mr Whales had produced a model garden, and Mr Watts had an extremely good garden, particularly in quality. Section 2—Mr Schultz grew clean vegetables on practically every inch of his property, and Mr Carlyle also had a good garden. Section 3—Mr Priest had well-grown vegetables and a well laid out garden. Mr Marsden won the section last year, but this year there was evidence that some of the crops were going off. Mr Drury's garden was a new garden less taan 12 months i\go. The ground when he took over was a mass of cocksfoot and other weeds. He cultivated the ground in splendid style, and there was now a complete absence of weeds. Section 4—Mr McLaughlin put in a really good garden, although he had a fairly big area compared with the other entries. He cultivated every available inch and had a wonderful succession of vegetables. Mr Shaw had a small garden well worthy of second prize, and Mr Jones's was well maintained. Sections—Mr Tudhope's property was practically all sand, and the garden was not as good as in previous years on account of the extreme heat and lack of moisture. Although there were some good early crops, it was impossible to get good winter crops on light and sandy soil.