Quality of Lily Show Amazes American Judge
“I'm completely amazed at the quality,’’ said Mr Jan de Graaf, a world-famous lily grower from the United States, who judged the New Zealand Lily Society’s annual show which opened in the Horticultural Hall yesterday. “I see a lot of these shows in the States—and there are many lilies here that would win in any British or American show,” Mr de Graaf said. Mr de Graaf was particularly enthusiastic about two blooms, one shown by A. Smith (Kaiapoi)—which he judged the premier bloom of the show—and the other by R. J. Toon <Fendalton), which took first prize for the best seedling. Mr de Graaf described them as remarkably good. “And they tell me Mr Smith has been raising lilies for only five years,” he said. Mr de Graaf was also full of praise for Christchurch as “the garden city.” “Remarkably good—remarkably high level,” he said. “Street after street you have so many of the gardens obviously tended with great care, more so than in any comparable American city.”
And the Christchurch weather yesterday, grey and cool, was described by Mr de Graaf as good weather for showing lilies. It helped tc bring the colours out, he said.
“Lilies like warm summers and cool winters, such as you have here in Christchurch,” said Mr de Graaf. “We have a similar climate in Oregon.” Mr de Graaf’s 140-acre lily farm in Oregon is the biggest in the world, tended by 200 employees in the summer, and 40 during the winter. Thirty per cent of its lily production is sent to Europe, Switzerland being the best customer. “People have so many summer houses there, and there are so many summer hotels.” Mr de Graaf said. “Lilies are very much in the world fashion right now,” said Mr de Graaf, as he stood among the Christchurch lilies, talking to a reporter while Mrs de Graaf, who is accompanying her husband on his New Zealand tour, admired individual blooms in the background. “There is a little falling-off in roses and irises, and lilies are now coming in strongly. “Take this show here right
now,” he said. “It would be a credit to any of the regional American lily groups.” Mr de Graaf, a Dutchman, who went to the United States in 1922, began by growing daffodils and tulips. The name de Graaf has been orominent in the flower-grow-ing business since this Dutch family began planting in 1723.
Mr de Graaf went to the United States to contniue the job he had known all his life —growing tulips. But he switched to lilies after World War 11, when the market for lily-growing was wide open, he said, and has grown lilies exclusively since 1959. Having completed judging the New Zealand Lily Society’s show—which will remain open today—Mr de Graaf will “have a look around.” as he put it. He and his wife will travel to Mil ford Sound, and then to Mount Cook. They will then return to the North Island, and attend the Auckland Lily Society’s convention from January 26 to 29. Mr de Graaf gave a lecture on lilies in the Horticultural Hall last evening. A fellow lily enthusiast, and expert photographer of lilies, Mr J. Ford, who is travelling with him, will give another illustrated lecture this evening.
The latest microwave television links supplied to New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation by a British firm, EMI Electronics Ltd., can transmit either colour or black and white pictures. Links previously supplied to the corporation have been capable of transmitting monochrome pictures only. So far the corporation has ordered £65.000 worth of links to extend and improve New Zealand television coverage. The link equipment provides facilities for transmitting both sound and vision signals over long distances. Senior New Zealand trade officials visited the electronics factory in Hayes, Middlesex, recently to inspect the new equipment under test before it was shipped to New Zealand. Shown above inspecting one of the new link units are, from left, Mr C. Cunningham, a New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation engineer who is spending a year’s leave of absence working at the electronics factory, Mr M. C. Hol- | den. senior Trade Commissioner, and Mr A. K. Robinson, first secretary (commercial) both of the New Zealand Trade Commission in London.
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Press, Volume CV, Issue 30956, 12 January 1966, Page 12
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712Quality of Lily Show Amazes American Judge Press, Volume CV, Issue 30956, 12 January 1966, Page 12
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