THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S SHOW.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 183, 11 January 1878, Page 5

THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S SHOW.

The second annual Show of the Clutha Horticultural Society was held in Barr's Hall on Tuesday last. On "the previous day Messrs Sutherland arid M'Gregor, with a staff of assistants, were engaged erecting stands, carrying out decorations, &c. , and it must be confessed they did their work well. We have never seen the Hall so tastefully or elaborately decorated. Although rain, fell at an early hour on Tuesday morning the day turned out fine, and the weather although a little stormy proved favourable to the Show. Messrs Hutchins and A. Grigor were kept fully engaged all forenoon taking the entries, which were far more numerous than' any one anticipated, and as to the quality of the exhibits, they were really first-class. The judges freely admitted their surprise at the excellence "of ' the Shbw> and confessed that so far as some of ' the classes were concerned— especially the currants— they had never; seen ; better, quality exhibited, at any 7 Show/ .. Vegetables -"were alsba fine i shjow, and^sfor^ppVpl-irits, we believe very 'few would have credited such "/a,; large number and variety of fih^-

valuable plants were to be . found in the whole Clutha district. . An exhibit of apples belonging to Mr Robertson, The Gask, is worthy of -special notice. It was a portion of a branch of a tree upon which about a foot apart were two clusters of apples, the one numbering 30 and the other 17 apples. On the same branch about six inches apart was another cluster (not exhibited), containing 32. apples. The fruit was not ripe, and we do not know the name of the species. Tables were ranged the whole length of the Hall on both sides, upon which the exhibits were crowded as close as they could be packed. Indeed the accommodation was far too limited to admit of the exhibits being seen to advantage. Along the centre of the Hall and upon the stage were erected stands, upon which were shown a magnificent collection of about 150 pressed New Zealand ferns, which were very much admired. These were exhibited by Mr Mackenzie, of Mackenzie and Thomson. They were all collected by himself in a space of about six years, and, we understand, are as complete a collection as exists. A table along the end of the Hall in front of the stage was filled with cut blooms, sent for exhibition by Messrs Law, Sornner, and Co., seed and nurserymen, Dunedin. Conspicuous amongst these was a splendid collection of roses, comprising some fifty varieties in grand condition ; also, twenty-four trusses of New Zonale pelargoniums, the delicate and brilliant colours of which were quite a feature in the Show. Carnations, picotees, pansies, herbaceous phloxes, and penstemons were shown in good variety and condition by this firm, and we trust by another year to see these old favourite border plants well represented and keenly contested. And we must not forget to mention the fine stand of fuchsia blooms, which caused quite a sensation owing to the enormous size of the double varieties. We also noticed some blooms of Clematis Jackmanii, which is undoubtedly one of the finest hardy climbers in cultivation. Mr Matthews, of Dunedin, also contributed some fine species of heaths, but we did not get their names. Altogether, the Show was successful beyond all expectation. No doubt by another year some new arrangements and additional accommodation will be provided. It is evident the Society has the entire sympathy and hearty support of the public, and it is evident also there is abundance of material in the Clutha to maintain a good annual Show. The judges of gardens were Messrs Sutherland and M'Gregor, gardeners here ; and of plants, fruits, vegetables, &c. , Messrs Matthews, Begg, and West, of Dunedin, and we believe the decisions gave universal satisfaction. The following is the Prize List : — Class I.— Best Kept Gardens. Half -acre —Ist, Dr Smith ; 2nd, R. Cramnd. Quarter-acre — Ist, J. S. Fleming ; 2nd, S. Porter; 3rd, Jas. Cossens; Mr Reunert commended. Eighth of an acre — Ist, G. W. Hutchinß; 2nd, John Low ; 3rd, J. Macdonald. Class ll.—- Gbeenhouse Plants. Best Fuchsia; 7 entries— lst, R. Cramond; 2nd, A. Grigor. Three Fuchsias, varieties ; 2 entries — Ist, John Whyte ; 2nd, G. W. Hutchins. Three Petunias; 1 entry— G. W. Hutchins, commended. Specimen Plant ; 13 entries — Ist, Dr Smith ; 2nd, R. Grigor. Best Scarlet Geraniums in pots ; 2 entries — Ist, W. Hope ; 2nd, G. W. Hutchins. Best Collection of Geraniums in pots ; 5 entries—lst, Dr Smith ; 2nd, G. VT. Hutchins. Variegated Geranium in pots ; 5 entries — Ist and 2nd, A. Grigor. Three Variegated Geraniums in pots ; 1 entry — Ist, Jas. Young. Five Balsams ; 2 entries— lst, G. W. Hutchins ; 2nd, John Low. Two Calceolarias ; 3 entries— lst, Dr Smith ; 2nd, Mr 3 Bishop. Class lll. —Border Plants. Four Carnations; 2 entries— lst, John Johnstone ; 2nd, R. Moir. Six Pansies, vai*ieties ; 2 entries — Ist, Mrs Bishop ; 2nd, John Johnstone. Six Roses ; 2 entries— lst, John McNeil ; 2nd, Mrs Bishop. Three Dahlias ; 1 entry — F. Roberts, commended. Six Sweet Williams, varieties ; 4 entries— lst, 11. Cramond ; 2nd, John Johnstone. Best Collection of Flowers ; 1 entry— lst, Mrs Bishop. Four Phloxes ; 1 entry— lst, G. W. Hutchins. Best Hand Bouquet ; 9 entries — Ist and 2nd, W. Hope. Bouquet suitable for table ; 3 entries— lst, W. Hope ; 2nd, Mrs Bishop. Three Stocks, varieties ; 2 entries— lst, G. W. Hutchins ; 2nd, John Low. Collection Annuals ; 2 entries — Ist, G. W. Hutchins ; 2nd, A. Cowie. Best Design ; 2 entries— lst and 2nd, J. S 1 Fleming. Four Antirrhinums ; 2 entries — Ist, W. Hope ; 2nd, John Johnstone. Class IV.— Fruit.* Black Currants, one pint ; 14 entries— lst, John Willoeks ; 2nd, James Cossens. White Currants, one pint; 8 entries — Ist, W. O. Watt; 2nd, John Davidson. Red Currants, ono pint ; 11 entries — Ist, W. O. Watt; 2nd, G. W. Hutchins. Gooseberries, three varieties ; 15 entries — Ist, John Willoeks ; 2nd, Dr Smith: Raspberries, one pint ; 8 entries — Ist, John Willoeks ; 2nd, J. S. Fleming. Strawberries, one pint; 2 entries -Ist, H. S. Reunert; 2nd, G. W. Hutchinß. Collection of Apples ; 7 entries— lst, W. O. Watt; 2nd, John Allan. Cherries ; 4 entries— lst, John Willoeks ; 2nd, John Low. ; Class V.— Vegetables. Two Cucumbers ; 2 entries -Ist, John Low ; 2nd,G. W. Hutchins. ; Three Cabbages.; 4 entries— lst, C. Grant ; 2nd, H. S. Reunert. ■ '- ■ "■ ' v Three* Cauliflowers ; 3 entries— lst, John Low ; 2nd, H. S. Reunert. ..-'-.. Six Carrots; 6 entries— lst, John Davidson; 2nd, John'Johhstorie. , Two .Dozen Pods Peas; 14 entries— lst, John ' Allan ";.; 2nd, o.; Grant., 7 Two Dozen Potatoes, two varieties ; 7 entries —1it, , ,W; .0, Watt; 2nd, R. Moir. : • ; Six Winter. Onions ; 5. entries— lst, John ;Willo(^ : ;;'2n^,-^R^erts; AAAAi A. yl j',' '-"-"'•;' Six ;. Spring; Onidns7;7.7 7 entnea~lst; ; John !'Allah;i2ndj:Mf Hewitapri. - AXr: -V-- 7 ? ; -7,

Six Shalots ; 5 entries — Ist, Dr Smith ; 2nd, H. S. Reunert. Best Vaiieties Potatoes ; 1 entry — Ist, R. Moir. Six Stalks Rhubarb*; 6 entries— lst, H. S. Reunert ; 2nd, John Johnstone. Salad ; 1 entry — Ist, G. W. Hutching. Turnips, threW white and three yellow ; 5 entries—lst, James Lamcnd; 2nd, Mrs Ryrie. Beetroot, red ; 4 entries— lst, John Low ; 2nd, H. S. Reunert. One Dozen Beans, dwarf : 7 entries— lst, John Law ; 2nd,- John Davidson. Spinach, one dish ; 2 entries — Ist, Mrs Ryrie ; 2nd, G. W. Hutchins. Three Lettuces ; 9 entries— lst, James Cossens ; 2nd, H. S. Reunert. Parsley, a plant ; 5 entries — Ist. Mr Hewitson ; 2nd, W. Hope. ' Six Parsnips ; 4 entries— lst, John Provan ; 2nd, Dr Smith. Collection of Vegetables ; 2 entries— lst, F. Roberts ; 2nd, H . S. Reunert. x Grapes; 2 entries — W. O. Watt, commended. Pears ; 1 entry -Ist, W. O. Watt. Ferns ; 1 entry —A. Grigor, commended. There had been a good attendance of visitors throughout the afternoon, but the Committee having announced a promenade concert for the evening the Hall was then crowded to excess, there not even being standing room. The centre stands containing the ferns had been removed, but the tables with the exhibits along the sides of the Hall were left during the evening, and we are glad to say that while they were closely examined they were very little interfered ,with or injured, — thanks, perhaps, to the vigilance of the Committee. The musical programme consisted of selections by the Drum and Fife Band ; duet (piano), by Mesdames Douglas and Hutchins ; piano solos, by Mrs Grigor and Mr Dick ; and songs, by Messrs John Whyte, Reunert, and James Whyte. The whole were very well received. Mr T. T. Ritchie, President of the Society, presided, and the whole proceedings were orderly and thoroughly enjoyable. After the programme had been exhausted, an auction sale of fruit, vegetables, &c, was held by Mr R. Grigor, when a few pounds were secured towards the funds of the Society. The whole proceedings terminated a little before 11 o'clock.