SPRING FLOWERS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2876, 14 September 1916, Page 3

SPRING FLOWERS

HUTT VALLEY PATRIOTIC EXHIBITION. ' An exceedingly interesting display of spring flowers was made at tho Hutt Valley Horticultural Society's Show, which was opened in tho Drill Hall yesterday afternoon by His Excellency tho • Governor. Although it was said that tho weather had interfered to a considerable extent with the quality of tho blooms, it was very difficult to find fault with what was there, and somo beautiful specimens of the narcissi family, of anemones, l'recsias, gerberas, hyacinths, and pot plants were to be seen. Undoubtedly one of the features of the show was the. display made by Mr. G. J. W. Harvoy for exhibition only. This consisted', of cinerarias of • beautiful, shading, some, magnificent anemones, ono variety in particular* being of a rich wine colour, gerberas that showed beautiful colours, freesias, and most beautiful carAmong tho last-mentioned wero so'me a most delicate blush pink, perfectly shaped. For his display Mr. Harvey won the Royal Horticultural Society's silver, medal. Tho silvered fern basket presented by Mr. 16. Chapman, in which was arranged a collection of gorgeous blood-red anemones with large velvety petals, had admiring crowds around it the whole of the afternoon.

The. winner of the Licensed Victuallers' Trophy (open classes, 50 varieties) was Mr. A: Booth, of tho Wairarapa, who had sent down a wonderfully fine collection of narcissi, remarkable for their beauty arid general wellgrown effect. ' Some ; rare ,and new varieties were to bo found, among them being tho champion bloom (other than trumpet) 'daffodil, "Croesus" by name, ffhe champion long trumpet daffodil, "Much tho Miller," was shown by Mr. R. Gibson, and was also a very fino specimen of its class. Another beautiful bloom shown by Mr. Booth in his collection was "Marshlight," a flower with a large yellow perianth and wide cup of a. deep tangerine shade The "Macobearer" was another fino "bloom. Mr. Hobbs came second for the Licensed Victuallers' Trophy, but unfortunately the weather had prevented him from showing his best blooms. .Tho winner of tjioßarr Trophy (30 varieties of narcissi) was Mr. Robert 1 Gibson, and second camo Mr. A. J. Hobbs, whoso collection ran the former very close in merit.

Among the nurserymen ■ wore H. Poole, who received the- R.H.S.'s silver medal for a collection of 60 varieties of narcissi, for exhibition only; P. Mason (Feilding), who received tho R.H.S.'s bronze medal for a collection of daffodils; and W. B. Hardy for a display of violets and daffodils. For I 1 a collection of narcissi (30 varieties), T: Waiigh also received tlio R.H.S. bronzo medal. The displays of potplants by H. Poole arid T. Waugh wcro very fine. Yet another interesting section of tho show was that in which wore displayed New Zealand seedlings (narcissi), and when it is realised that it takes about nine or ten years beforo tho results of those seedlings aro ready for exliibition, the necessity for patience in their development can be understood. The exhibits of A. Ji Hobbs and R. N. Wall aro said to bo.improving each year in this particular class. In-tlie open classes the principal prize-winners -were:—Mr. Alfred Booth, who carried off ten firsts (narcissi) and seven seconds; H. Poole and F. Westbury with five firsts, the latter also with six seconds.- For-the best collection of spring flowers, othor than narcissi, F. Westbury came first. For 'a collection of anemones (not more than 100 blooms), D. Ncill secured first

prize, and Mrs. A.-.E. Pearco second. For specimen flowering plants in pots H.Poole won four prizes. In tho amateur classes, the ohief prize-winner was W. H. Keynolds, who secured nine firsts and two seconds, amongst former being Mr. A. Hardham's trophy for the best long trumpet and Mr. C. B. Trimncll's trophy for collection of narcissi, not exceeding 30 varieties. For collection of anemones, not' moro than 30 blooms, D. Neill secured first, and Mrs. A. E. Pearce

second. In the cottage garden class, for U varieties of narcissi, Mrs. A. Hardham I won first prize, and T. L. Barker second, while for the best collection of flowers, M- Littlejohn came first, with Miss Doris Tresider second. In the decorativo classes, tho hrstprizo winners were: Mrs. A M'Bam first and second for a basket of flowers ; Mrs. J. Faith for a ladies' spray, with Doris Lees second; vase of flowers, Mrs'. Faith first and Miss Hamilton second; presentation bouquet, Mrs. Faith and Mrs. M'Bain first and second respectively; bowl of daffodils, Mrs. E. It. Orr and Dovis Lees; for floral design, Mrs. M. Bain and Miss Hamilton first and seconds. lii the children's classes, the prizewinners were: Miss Muriel Turner first, Jliss Phillis Waugh second (decorated tables); ladies' spray. Miss Ruth Hobbes and Miss Joan Hendry, and for gentleman's buttonhole Miss Joan [Hendry and Mis s Beryl Grierson first 'and second respectively. For the decorated tables in the adult section the judging was to lie by vote. In opening the Spring Show, His Excellency the Governor, who was accompanied by Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool, said that he had bad much correspondence, with the Home authorities in regard to tho needs of the wounded 6oldiers, and what had been done in New Zealand to assist in this work had received their approval and appreciation. Ho further told his audience that between August 26, 1915, and August 10, 1916, there had been carried on the Now Zealand hospital ships approximately 22,000 cases, and by now this would be„considerably increased. In July the Marama, with a capacity for 550 cases, had carried from Havre 1 ' to Southampton in ono week 5800 men. His Excellency then referred to the number of men who had passed through Walton-on-Thames and through Broeklohurst Hospital. In the work that had been done there was every reason to bo grateful to the splendid organisation of St. John Ambulance Association and the Red Cross. He hoped that the whole of tho Dominion would contribute as- much _as it could towards this organisation on collection day in October next. Reference was then made to the great ! need for more consideration in this country to agriculture. Wo had in tho past been very ruthless in destroying tree life, and His Excellency expressed tho hope-that measures would bo taken to repair this wastage. During the afternoon Mr. E. Leighton auctioned the silver basket of anemones which had'sheen presented by Mr. G. Chapman. As a result tho sum of £15 was realised, and each purchaser, the Mayor of Lower Hutt, who bid £8 and passed tho basket in again. Mr. C. Izard, Mr. W. Hardy. H. Poole,' and B. Mason, who all made bids of a pound or more, received from 100 to 300 beautiful bulbs for encouraging tho cause.