HAWKE'S BAY AUTUMN SHOW.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 470, 31 March 1909, Page 5

HAWKE'S BAY AUTUMN SHOW.

DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBITS. Judging at the Hawke's Bay A. and P. Society's autumn show was concluded yesterday, with tho exception of live stock, fancy butter, dressed poultry, and floral exhibits (telegraphs our Hastings correspondent). On Monday heavy rain poured down, but yesterday the weather was beautifully fine, which proved a great help to exhibitors in'getting their produco into position. This year fruit stands out as a magnificent illustration of the producing powers of the province. The leading growers have evidently vied with each other in giving practical demonstration of what can be accomplished under favourable climatic conditions. Vegetables of great size deck tho tables in imposing array, and add further evidence of the season's blessings. Yesterday morning ' the_ exhibitors were engaged in displaying their exhibits to the best advantage. The big produce shed was baro at the commencement of proceedings, but was gradually transformed into an' arena of cultivating skill. Workmen wero busily engaged in meeting the demands of exhibitors for space, and it was. quickly apparent that the show was -to prove .an instructive and valuable one. The general display is, however, robbed of one of its big features of attraction. The outside branches of the Farmers' Union havo decided, owing'to the expense entailed, not to exhibit unless an increased subsidy is forthcoming from'the A. and P. Society. For this reason the Hastings' branch of the union had the field to themselves, and' to their credit be it said that lack of competition has not: been allowed to damp their enthusiasm. It is to be hoped the association" will considor the enterprise of such branches as Takapau and Puketapu, who bring their exhibits at considerable expense of time, energy,' and money from very long'distances. A novel and most important feature in this year's show is the inducement offered to schools to compete in the kitchen gardening. This department should grow rapidly in" popularity, and next year it is to be hoped that every school in the rural districts at any rate will be represented. Cauliflowers were the only class passed over, the others being contested by the Ongaonga, Taradale, and TJmututaoroa schools, while Petane was . represented by an extra exhibit of potatoes 'grown under different conditions of manure. "This innovation is most instructive, and the boys concerned showed what could he done by industry and capable instruction. Each class had a small plot to cultivate, and in one instance the vegetables were raised from a shingle soil, with the aid of selected manures, with the result that the display formed quite an-object lesson even to practical fanners. The Petane School showed Up-to-Dates, Sutton's Ideal, grown without manures, and with the.aid of different manures giving. the yield of each sample to the acre, with the proportion, marketable and unmarketable. This department, proved itself educational, and should become one of the most popular sections in future' shows. The exhibits of apples, pears, and peaches were excellent, but oranges and lemons v*ere not good. The root section was exceedingly good. Turnips were of a high quality, but , Aberdeens were not shown. Mangolds contributed a large mimber of exhibits of high standard, whilo white. _ with one exhibit in red, formed the only 'display in carrots! The potatoes succeeded in securing sharp competition in all classes, and the show was very good all round. The onions were also of excellent qualjty, and as an example of their size it may he mentioned that a string of twelve turned the scale at 361b. In.the field exhibits (farmers) field mangolds only occupied the attention of exhibitors. For • some reason or another, wool has never been a popular section, and this year it has been altogether ignored. At the time of writing the weather is beautiful and full of promise for the people's day (to-day).