ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Evening Star, Issue 4075, 18 March 1876, Page 1 (Supplement)

ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

.Tho autumn show of the above society was opened in the Temperance Hall, Moray place, yesterday afternoon. The exhibits Tyere nojt so numerous as they have, been on soiae former occasions, but, with a few exceptions, they were the finest in their several classes we remember to have seen. The n\pnber of exhibitors is to be regretted, and is not creditable to .our gardeners, pro-i fessional or amateur, The society is, we be heve, doing its best to encourage the beau.-, tijul and interesting art of floriculture, but itjjs not receiving the support its efforts deserve. We miss from the list of exhibitors a number of names,,,.of gentlemen, still ih Dunedin, who' Were wont' to exhibit largely andOxmmpete ! successfully some years ago, and their places are hot filled by new comers. Many of the articles shown yesterday were worthy of special note. Chief amongst th¥se were two bunches of grapes, exhibited by Mr Hy. Ward, gardener to Mr Haynes. These ;are by .far the finest grapes : ever shown in Dunedin. We did not get the weight of ■ the bunches, but should judge them to weigh from five to seven pounds ea °h- Not only are the bunches large, but the grapes : are also exceptionally firie. Several years ago, we remember,, some grapes exhibited by Dr Hulme at-tracted-a good deal of attention at the Society’s show, but they were by no means so fine as those now shown by Mr Hayne’s gardener/ On . the same table with the grapes were some remarkably fine peaches grown :by Mr A.K. Ure. Two plates of. gooseberries, shown by Mr Matthews were, very good for this late season. The varieties arethe “ nutmeg” or “jam” berry aned “ Matthews’s favorite, ” a seedling of fine size and flavor, groWtt,by Mr Matthews. The apples shown by Mr J. Moffat and Mr J. Eva, and two varieties Of plums grown by Mr Eva’ were very fine samples of thesortof fruitwhich may be grown in Dunedin. Mr J. Gebbie, as usual, was also a large exhibitor of fine fruit, f with.' There were only two table vOnbUets Odiibited-, one on each sido of the ph, 'though hot by art, jptypa, our •: item i

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judgment, far superior in taste and beauty to that shown by the gardeners. Of cut flowers there was a fine though not large collection. The dahlias were very fine, as were also the verbenas of Mr Lawrence. The African marigolds of Mr Ireland, and several specimens shown by Mr R. Hay, including a tiger lilly, a salvia (new to our exhibitions), and a fine bloom of “salpi glosus.” Mr Ogilvie deserves special mention for his show of carnations and picotees, and Mr Arroll for his stand of gladioli. Coming to the pot plants, first mention must, be made of a specimen of the Erica Massoniana, one of the finest Cape heaths, shown by Mr 0. Lawrence. This plant was imported direct, and is the first of this particular variety of heath. flowered in Dunedin. Mr Hay showed a very fine lilinm auratum, or golden lily. The powerful perfume of this flower filled the room. Messrs Law, Somner, and, Co. showed some beautiful fuchsias. This collection reminds us of the place once filled in the Flower Show by the fuchsias of Mr Peter Dick. Why does he never show ? THe foliage plants of Mr D. Hay, the conifera of Mr Matthews and Mr C. Reid, and the variegated geraniums of Mr Lawrence attracted attention, and were worthy of notice. Thevegetablesshownwereexceptionallygood. Among these were some splendid potatoes and a lot of peas, shown by Mr Thos. M'Uill, and • grown by. him in the Halfway Bush district, 1,400 feet above the sea level. We append the prize list:— NURSERYMEN AND GARDENERS.

Class I.— Plants in flower (grown in pots). Stove or greenhouse plants—G. Mathews, 1, C. Laurence, 2. Single specimen plant, new or rare—C. Laurence (newest), 1; Law, Somner, and Co., 2 Fuchsias, collection—Law, Somner, ard Co. Best two coxcombs—J. Gebbie, junior. Best six roses C. Laurence. Best two palms—C. Laurence. ’ Class 2.—Foliage plants, grown in pots; pelargoniums (test collection); and ferns (six native and six exotic)—C. Laurence. Twelve coniferte, G. Mathews.

Class 3. —Cut Flowers: Boses, twelve varieties. Law, Somner. and Co., 1; W. Arroll. 2. Dahlias twelve varieties, John Wilson, 1; W. Arroll 2 Gladioli, twelve varieties, W. Arroll, 1. Verbenas twelve varieties, Laurence, 1. Best collection of cut flowers, J. Moffat, I; C. Laurence, 2. Best collection of named carnations and picotees W Arrol. 1. Hand bouquet, J. Gebbie, jun., 1; j! Moffat, 2. Table bouquet, for vase or epergne, J Gebbie, jun., 1. Class 4.—Fruit: Best collection of fruit, J. Gebbie inn.; grapes, best two bunches, black or white, H. Ward, 1; J. Moffat, 2; dessert apples six varieties (two each), J. Gebbie jun. ; cooking apples, six var:eties (two each), J. Moffat: pears three varieties: (two each), J. Gebbie, jun. Class.s.— Vegetables: Cucumbers, best brace, C G Daniels 1 J G ‘ Scott ’ 2 ' Collectioll of vegetables,

Extra PRiZES.—Boses, 'six'varieties, Law, Somner, and Co. Dahlias, six varieties, W. Arrol 1• J. Wilson 2. Stocks, six varieties, G. Scott. Asters! six varieties, C. Lanrence 1; W. Arroll 2 Herbaceous phlox, four varieties, W. Arroll. Messrs W. Martin and Stark were the judges.

AMATEURS Class I.—Plants in Flower (grown in pots): gngle specimen, and four varieties of fnschia, E. Hay. Double pelargoniums, Thomas Ireland. Coxcombs, two best, J. Crosbie. Class2.— Foliage: Plants (grown in pots) foliage, four distinct genera, E. Hay. Pelagoniums, tricolor, silver, and bronze, J. Crosbie, 1; T. Ireland, 2. Class 3.—Cut Flowers: Carnations and picotees, named, best collection, W. B. Ogilvie, 1 and 2 Verbenas, six varieties, Thos. Ireland. Best collcctaon of cut flowers and. hand bouquet (five inches). -J.® bouquet, m vase or epergne. Miss Christie. Best collection of carnations and picotees (special), WB. Ogilvie. • Class 4.—Fruit: Peaches . (six), J. Cherry Plums, two varieties (six each), J. Eva. Apples, dessert, three varieties (three of each), B Hay Apples, cooking, three varieties (threeof each), and two varieties of pears (three of each), J. Eva. Class 2.—Vegetables: Best collection, E. Hav. Cucumbers, best brace, A. P. Smith. Vegetable marrows, two, Suitable for table ; cabbages tod cauliflowers, two each; onions, best six; carrots, turnips, parsnips, and beet (three each); French beans, best dish; and celery, best two lie-ids, G. Daniels* *

. Extra Prizes. —Dahlias, stocks, asters, and pansies, six varieties of each, E. Hay, Messrs George Scott and Macpherson were the judges in the amateur classes.