THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF OTAGO : MARCH EXHIBITION.

Evening Star, Issue 3140, 13 March 1873, Page 2

THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF OTAGO : MARCH EXHIBITION.

The large area of the Drill-shed, although advantageous to visitorsand exhibitors, allows of the distribution of exhibits over so large a space as to give a meagre appearance to what, in a smaller room, would appear crowded. At the same time it is undeniable that the healthy enthusiasm that used to stimulate both gardeners and amateurs is flagging. The specimens of flowers and fruit are good, but not so numerous as the progress of Dunedin might naturally have led to the expectation of. Amongst the flowers deserving special notice was a colledion named gladioli, by Messrs Law, S'omucr, and Co., a very numerous and interesting collection of foliage plants (tricolor geraniums) by Mr D. M‘Donald, for Mr C, Reid, and with them a very fine specimen of Statice Holfordi. The exhibits of fruit showed a marked advance on former years. Some of the peaches, apples, and pears were remarkable for size, form, and ripeness. In this respect we think the amateurs carried off the palm, although some very good specimens were exhibited by the gardeners. As worthy of special notice we may mention several specimens of peaches grown by Mr J. Fulton; a miscellaneous collection by Mr M‘Cardie, of the Glen, which included 25 varieties of pears, 33 of apples, besides plums, peaches, Siberian crabs, strawberries, blackberries, elderberries, and currants. The celebrated cox-orauge apple was amongst them, and a very large sized pear for cooking. The same gardener also exhibited some very fine cucumbers, one of which measured twenty inches in length. Amongst the fruit exhibits was a tastefully-arranged quadrangular pyramid by Mr J as. Gebbie, jun., including fifteen varieties. There were white and red currants, straberries, raspberries, brambles, apricots, plums, gooseberries, peaches, grapes, apples (several sorts), Siberian crabs, elderberries, &c. Some very good vegetables were shewn, principally drum-Bead cabbages of enormous size, carrots, and turnips. We hardly think sufficient publicity has been given to the exhibition, and trust that so valuable an institution will not be allowed to collapse, which it seems in danger of, through disinclination to send in exhibits from the numerously highly cultivated gardens in the neighborhood af the City, PRIZE LIST. GARDEN EES. Plants in Flower (grown in pots).— Store or Greenhouse Plants, 4 genera : 1, W. Arroll; 2, J. Gebbie, jun. Petunias : J, Gebbie, jun. Zonial Pelargoniums : J T, Gebbie, jun, Gloxianas, 4 varieties : J. Gebbie, jun. Foliage Plants (grown in pots),—Four distinct genera : W. Arroll. Coleus, 3 varieties ; 1, W. Arroll; 2, J. Gebbie, jun. Coniform, 12 varieties : George Matthews. Cut Flowers.— Dahlias, 12 varieties: 1, George Scott; 2, W. Arroll. Gladioli: 1, W. Arroll; 2, J. Gebbie, jun. Hollyhocks : 1, Jas. Don; 2, J. Gebbie, jun. Roses, 12 varieties : 1, Charles Sonntag ; 2, W. Arroll. Verbenas: Charles Sonntag. Asters: J, Gebbie, jun. Other Herbaceous Plants :J. Gebbie, jun. Stocks: V. Arroll. Hand Bouquet, not exceeding five inches in diameter :J. Gebbie, jun. Best arranged vase of flowers, not exceeding 13 inches in diameter : J. Gebbie, jun.

Fruit. Miscellaneous Collection ; W. McCardle, Grapes, two bunches, J. Gebbie jun. Peaches, best six : 1, James Gebbie, jun.; 2. W, McCardle, Plums, three varieties, three each : W. McCardle. Apples, three varieties, four each : W. McCardle. Ditto, cooking, three varieties, four each : W. McCardale. Pears, two varieties : 1, A. Grant; 2, W. McCardale. Blackberries or Brambles: W, McCardle, Vegetables. Pumpkins, two heaviest : W. McCardale. Vegetable Marrows, suitable for table : W, McCardle, Onions, best twelve : James Don. Carrots, best six : 1, James Don; 2, W. Arroll. Turnips, three white and three yellow : James Don, Amateurs’ List. Plants in Fl-aver (grown in rots.)— Stove and Greenhouse Plants, three distinct genera: 1, T. Dobbie; 2, A. H. Slimy. Fuschias, three varieties : 1, A. H. Saury ; 2, T. Dobbie. Zonial Pelargoniums, two varieties: A. H, Shury. Double-flowering

Pelargoniums, two varieties: 1, A. H Shury ;2, T. Dobbie. Balsams, two varie ties : T. Dobbie. Cockscombs, two varieties T. Dobbie. Achimencs, two varieties : A. H. Shury. Gloxinias, two varieties; T, Dobbie.

Foliage Plants (grown in pots) —Foliage plants, three distinct genera: 1, T. Dobbie; 2, A, H. Shury. Coleas, two varieties : 1, T. Dobbie; 2, A. H Shury. Pelargoniums, three varieties—tricolor, bronze, and silver variegated : 1, T. Dobbie ; 2, A. H. Shury. Cut Fl avers. —Dahlias, six varieties : I, Jas. Lambton; 2, T. Dobbie. Gladiole, four spikes, varieties ; 1, A. H. Shury ; 2, J. Lambton, Pelargoniums, twelve trusses, varieties ; 1, A. H. Shury; 2, J. Lambton. Roses, six varieties : T. Dobbie. Carnations, six varieties :T. Dobbie. Picotees, six varieties: T. Dobbie. Yerbeuas, six varieties : 1, A. H. Shury ; 2, T. Dobbie, Marigold, French and African : A. H. Shury. Hand bouquet, not to exceed five inches in diameter : Mrs A. Crawshaw. Best arranged vase of liowers, not to exceed twelve inches in diameter : Mrs A, Crawshaw.

Fruit,— Grapes, black or red, one bunch : 1, A. Grant; 2, Mrs A. Crawshaw, Ditto, white, one bunch : Mrs A. Crawshaw. Peaches, best four : 1, Jas. Fulton; 2, Geo. Howell. Apricots, best four : Jas, Fulton. Apples, cooking, three varieties : Geo. Howell. Pears, best two : 1, Jas. Fulton ; 2, A. Grant Vegetables. —Rhubarb, four stalks : 1, Mrs A. Crawshaw; 2, J. Lambton. Cabbage, two: J. Lambton. Carrots, six: R. Mackay.

Special Prizes.

Best peaches (by Mr G. K. Turton): Jas. Gebbie, jun. Best twelve flowering shrubs, iu or out of flower, in pots (by Mr Turton): H. West. Best decorated flower vase (by Mr Gebbie, jun.) ; Mrs A. Crawshaw. Best two varieties Menziesia (by Mr Dobbie) ; H. West. Best grown coleas, in pot (by Mr T. S. Graham): W. Arroll. Best single bloom of dahlia (by Mr J. Don) ;G. Scott, For the best sample of jellies (by Gibbs and Clayton) : T. Dobbie.