ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Evening Star, Issue 3072, 23 December 1872, Page 2

ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The summer Exhibition of the above Society was, according to announcement, opened by H’s Excellency the Governor, at 2 o'clock, in the Head Quarters Drill Shed. His Excellency arrived in a carriagc-and-pair, accompanied by Lady Bowen, the Misses Bowen, his Honor the Superintendent, aud Major Pitt. The party were received at the door of the Exhibition by Mr Matthews, the President of the Society, aud several members of the Committee ; the band, under the leadership of Mr West, playing the National Anthem. There was no ceremony. His Excellency and Party were conducted roupd the room, aud evidently took considerable interest in the exhibits.

There were present besides the party of His Excellency :—Lady Bell, the Hon. Mrs Buchanan, the Hon. Mrs Bathgate, the Hon. Mrs Robert Campbell, and Mrs Edwards ; the Hou. Dr Buchanan, the Hon. James Paterson, J. B. Bradshaw, Esq., M.H. R., the Hon. Robert Campbell, the Rev. E. G. Edwards, aud Captain Matchell. We regret not being able to congratulate the Society on the excellence of their Exhibition. Tbe collection is the most indifferent we have seen in the City, and, considering the circumstances under which the Exhibition is held, we think it is evidence of an unsatisfactory working of the Society. On making enquiry as to the reason of the comparative failure of this Show, we learn that the fact of its being held on a Monday tells much against its success, as the occurrence of Sunday the day before interfered with the necessary preparations. It is also alleged that the new regulations as to theentry of exhibts made at the last annual meeting have acted as a deterrent rather than as an encouragement to exhibitors ; be the reason, however, what it mav, it is to be regretted that so pleasing and interesting an exhibition as that of the Horticultural Society usually is should have been on this particular occasion so unsuccessful.

There was a very fair show of fruit, particularly of strawberries, exhibited by Mr Smith. A large variety of roses, exhibited by Mr Sontag, though badly shown, were worthy of attention ; while those of Mr Sontag and Mr Arrol, which took the first and second prizes, were, considering the unfavorable weather we have had lately, very flue. The only other articles in the exhibition calling for particular notice were strawberries on the amateurs’ table, exhibited by Mr Dobhie and Mr Crawshaw. A stand of out geraniums from Fairfield Nursery, the table bouquets aud table ornaments, in competition for silver medals ; a gooseberry (the Yellow Lion, new to Otago), exhibited by Mr M atthews ; several specimens of the Mctraria Coociuea, shown by Messrs Shury and Matthews ; several Cape heaths, mostly of the \ entrioosa class ; aud one Cavendishii, shown by Mr Clements, gardener to Mr E. B. Cargill and Mr Martin Vegetables were conspicuous by their absence, there being only one exhibit of potatoes in the room, and only one or two exhibits of cabbages and cauliflowers. The following is the list of the prize-takers :

(VARDENKKS 1 LIST. Class I.—Plants inflows (grown in pots), store or greenhouse plants, best four distinct genera : A. G. Clements, 1 ; W. Martin, 2. Single specimen plant: A. G. Clements, 1. Pelargoniums, three stage varieties : H. West, 1; A. G. Clements, 2. Do. do., three fancy do. : A. G. Clements, 1 ; das. Gebbic, jun., 2. Do. do., three plain or zonale ; A. G. Clements, 1. ; H. West, 2. Do. do., three double flowering : H. West, 1, ; A. G, Clements, 2. Petunias, three varieties; Jas, Gebbie, jun. Calceolarias, three varieties : Jas. Gebbie, jun., I; John Wilson, 2. Climbing plants, two varieties : Jas. Gebbie, jun. Fuchsias, three varieties : H. West, 1; Jas. Gebbie, jun., 2. Class 2. —Foliage plants grown in pots; foilage plants, four distinct genera: H. West, 1 ; W. Martin, 2. Tricolor, bronze, and silver variegated pelargoniums, two each: H. West, 1 ; W. Arroll, 2 Four native aiul two exotic ferns (named), W. Martin. Class 3. -Cut flowets, named, eighteen varieties : C. Sontag, 1 ; W. Arroll, 2. Ditto, ditto, 12 varieties : C. Sontag, 1; W. Arroll, 2. Buds, ditto, six varieties : J. Gebbio, jun., 1 ; John Wilson, 2. Pinks, six yrase varieties, Jobu Wilson, I; JR.

Sandlauds. 2. Carnations, six varieties : James Gebbie, jun., 2; Picotees sex varieties : James Gebbie, junr., 1. Verbenas, twelve varieties, one truss each: John Wilson, 1 ; C. .'ontag, 2. I'an sics, twelve varieties : George Scolt, 1. Herbaceous plants, six varieties, one spike each : James Gebbie, junr., 1 ; C. Sontag, 2. Hand bouquet, not to exceed live inches in diameter : H. 1 ; (J. Milne, 2. Best arranged vase of flowers, not to cxced twelve inches in diameter : James Gebbie, junr., 1. ( la s 4—Fruit-Strawberries, best 21: B. Smith, 1; W. Langmuir, 2 Cherries, best 24: C. * outag, 1 ; W. M'Carile 2. Goo*ebcrries, heaviest 24 : K. Sandilauds, I;W. M ‘Cardie, 2. Currants, red, white, or black : W, Asher, 1 ; W. M’Cardie, 2. Class s.—Vegetables -Cucumbers,a brace: C. Sontag, 1; C. Lawrence, 2, Rhubarb, four stalks :C. Sontag, 1. Peas, two varieties of twelve pods each : W. M‘Cardie, 1. Onions, best six : W. Langmuir. Potatoes, two varieties of six each : W. Langmuir. Cauliflowers, two best, A. G. Clements, 1 ; W. Langmuir, 2. Cabbages, two best, W. Langmuir, 1. AMVTEURS’ LIST. Class 1, -Plants in flower, grown in pots— Store or greenhouse plants, three distinct genera : Thomas Dobbie, 1 ; A. H. Shury, 2. Pelargoniums, two stage varieties : A. H. Shury, 1 ; G. 11. West, 2. Ditto, two fancy ditto : A. H. Shury, 1 ; T. Dobbie, 2. Ditto, twopbin orzonalc varieties : A. H. Shury, 1; T. Dobbie, 2. Ditto, two double varieties : T. Dobbie, 1; A. H. Shury, 2 Climbing plant: T. Dobbie, 1; A. H. Shury, 2. Fuchiaa, two varieties: Jas. Lambtou. Class 2.—Foliage Plants, grown in pots.— Foliage plants, three distinct genera : A. H. Sherry, 1; A, Crawshaw, 2. Pelargoniums, tricolor, bronze, and silver variegated: G. K. West, 1 ; T. Dobbie, 2. Class 3.—Cut Flowers. —Hoses, named, six varieties : T. Dobbie, 1 ; Mrs G. Forrester, 2. Bulbs, six ditto; A. H. Shury, 1 ; T. Dobbie, 2. Pinks, four grass ditto: T. Dobbie, 1 ; A H. Shury, 2. Carnations, four ditto : A. H. Shury, 1. Piccotees, four ditto: A. H. Shury, 1; T. Dobbie, 2. Pansies, six varieties: T. Dobbie, 1; Mrs Geo. Forrester, 2. Herbaceous plants, four varieties of one spike each ; T. Dobbie, 1 ; Mrs Geo. Forrester, 2. Hand bouquet, not to exceed five inches in diameter : A. Crawshaw. 1;A. H. Shury, 2 Best arranged vase of flowers, 12 inches in diameter: A, Crawshaw, 1 ; A. H. Shury, 2. Class 4.—Fruits. Strawberries, best 24 : T. Dobbie, 1; A. Craw-haw, 2. Cherries, best 24: J. B. Bradshaw, 1 ; A. Giant, 3. Gooseberries, best 24: A. Crawshaw, 1 ; A. H. Shury, 2. Currants, red, white, or black : A Crawshaw, 1 ; J. B. Bradshaw, 2. Class s.—Vegetables, Cucumbers, one brace : James Lambtou. Cauliflowers, best two; J. Lambtou. Cabbages, ditto: J. Lambtou. SPECIAL PRIZES, Best bouquet of roses, not to exceed ten inches in diameter (Mr Clement’s prize) : C. So tag. Best grown fuchsias in pot, not to exceed eight inches in diameter (Mr T. S. Graham’s prize) : H. West. Best two caladrums (Mr A. H. Jack’s prize) : W. Arroll. Best arranged table bouquet, competed for by ladies only (Society’s medal) : Mrs Cherry. Best arranged vase of flowers Society’s medal) ; Mrs James Smith.