HAWKE'S BAY SHOW.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1382, 7 March 1912, Page 8

HAWKE'S BAY SHOW.

FRUIT THE FEATURE, JUDGES SPEAK HIGHLY OF IT. (By TelecrnDh.—SDecial CorresDondent.l Hastings, March 6. The Hawko's Bay A. ami P. Association hold its annual autumn show at the Hastings racecourse to ; day in the presence of a very largo crowd of people. The races at Dannevirke, however, acted as a coun-ter-attraction, whilst the fact that similar gatherings arc now held in adjacent districts also tends to detract from the general interest. Despite these drawbacks tho attendance, though reduced as compared with that of last year, still numbered several thousands. Tho standard of the display at the show was, this year, higher than ever, and it is now recognised as the leading fixture of the Dominion, so far as the exhibits of fruit arc concerned, fiecent showers have taken the bloom off some of the more delicate classes, but the season as a whole has proved very favourable, and tho quality of the exhibits came as n very pleasant surprise to those who had not before visited a similar gathering in Hawke's Bay. Mr. D. A. Hay, of Auckland, who judged the fruit, voiced the general view of tho experts when he .said that in this department the show was by far the best ever held in Now Zealand. "You need not hesitate to say that," taiil the judge, "because 1 would not say it if it were not absolutely true. I certainly have not seen show fruit in Central Otago, but Jfr. T. Horton has been there, and ho says that it cannot compare with this exhibit." Inferring to the apples, he said that the packed cases of Cox's orange pippins and ribstone pippins stood out above others, whilst the peaches and pears were well in tho front rank. .Specimens of well-known varieties appear to- be considerably hrger and of euual finality as compared with the same classes grown in other parts of the Dominion. ' A feature of the section was an exhibit from the Government experiment farm at Havelock, the collection being comprehensive and of a high standard. Amongst the private collections, that of Messrs. T. Horton and Co. stood out as one of exceptional excellence. It is- stated that the firm intend to ship the exhibit for display in Melbourne. ■ The show of vegetables was also very creditable, tho private gardens of wealthy residents of the district having been requisitioned to assist in making the show what it should be—an education to all amateurs. Root products were not up to the standard of the South Island winter shows, but they were, nevertheless, more than satisfactory. The chief mercantile houses were represented by collections of grain and seeds which wore of more than passing interest to farmers. The horticultural classes were well filled, and tho display of foliage collections from the leading nurseries of Napier and Hastings were exceptionally good. In flowers, tho cactus dahlias were of very good quality. A number of schcols in 'the vicinity of Hastings were represented by horticultural collections, and these were particularly good, considering the dry season. They suggested that the scholars responsible for their production had well learned the rudiments of agriculture. The arrangements for the show were, as usual, of a complete character, and the .secretary (Mr. Chas. Douglas) had left no stone unturned to present a programme of events which would satisfy the tastes of all. Unfortunately,,for these,,anai)ge- ' ments, heavy rain conlmenc«lvto;.ialr-:'at' about 3 o'clock, and although the jumping and other* competitive items were not abandoned, they had to be got through as auickly as possible.