ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY’S EXHIBITION.

Evening Star, Issue 4305, 13 December 1876, Page 2

ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY’S EXHIBITION.

The December exhibition of flowers and fruit of the Royal Horticultural Society of Otago was opened in the University Bill today. The centre, table was covered with a variety of flowers by different exhibitors, gardeners and amateurs, and the tables placed next the walls were neatly decorated with evergreens, among whioh were a variety of choice pines from the garden of Mr Matthews, gardener. The weather during the past week has not been favorable to the growth of flowers. The rain has, to nse a very pertinent phrase, “ washed out ” the colors from roses and other flowers grown in the open air, and many specimens that would have been very beautiful under favorable circumstances, have become too rhpidly developed and have lost their compact forms. But there are still plenty of splendid exhibits to give interest to all lovers of flowers. Mr Thomson, of the North-East Valley, has a large assortment of very fin ft plants, principally roses. Among so many varieties, each having its peculiar claim upon attention, it is scarcely possible to say which are best worthy of notice. One very beautiful white variety is, however, worth special attention, and seems fairly entitled to the name by which it has been christened, “La Heine des Blanches.” Among cut flowers there are several handsome collections, both by gardeners and amateurs. In rosea, anemones, pansies, pinks, picotees, Ac., Messrs Law, Somner, and Co., Mr J. T. Mackerras, Mr Hay, and others, have contributed several well-arranged trays. The prize list will be the guide to the best, but the attention of connoisseurs will be repaid by their particularly noticing one lovely flower in Mr Hay’s collection-the Marguerite bonnet rose. Granting that so large a room requires a vast number of contributors to render a floral exhibition attractive and that the area was fairly covered, we miss the evidences of enthusiasm that used to give such zest to exhibitions of the Society. Time was when there were floral designs prepared with taste and skill, models of landscape and ornamental gardening, and horticultural produce indicating the efforts made to grow the best, useful, and rare vegetables and fruit. Whether it is that time has become too valuable or gardeners indifferent as to the value of publicity, w© cannot tell, but certainly the exhibits in this branch of gardening are not so numerous as formerly. What was lacking in quantity has, however, been made up in quality. We do not recollect on any occasion having seen so large a collection of culinary vegetables, so uniformly good, as is shown by Mr George Edwards, of the Forbury. It consists of white and Swede turnips, Battersea cabbages, cauliflowers (Buttons), Neapolitan lettuce, peas, ashleave kidneys, and A merican rose potatoes, some magnificent gooseberries, and giant rhubarb. This is a special exhibit and deserves special notice, not only because of the quality of the vegetables, but as introducing some not common species to notice, and proving their adaptability to New Zealand culture. There is a smaller exhibit by Mr Daniels, in which the rhubarb fully equals that of Mr Edwards. As a matter of curiosity we approximately measured the length of the stalks and found some of them about two feet four or five inches, Mr Daniels’s-being two inches across at the lower end. Jn the lifetime of institutions there is often a time of weakness arising from indifference on the part of many who once took great interest in them. The Horticultural Society apSears to be undergoing one of these epressions, but we trust it is only temporary, and that so truly a national institution calculated to effect important improvement m every branch of fieri and horticulture, will revive and flourish more than it has yet done. The following is the prize list

GABDEKEEB* LIST. Class I.—Plants in Flower (grown in pots) : Store or greenhouse plants, six distinct genera: J. Debbie, 1• E. Thomson, 2. Single specimen plant: Jjaw, Somner, and Co., 1. Best new or rare plant: a. Ibomson, 1; Law, Somner, and Co., 2. Calceo lanas, three varieties: J. Gebbie, 1. Heaths, three varieties: E. Hay, 1 : E. Thomson, 2. Pine foliage piants, dissimilar: E. Thomson, 1. Exotic ferns, six varieties; E. Thomson, 1. Native ferns, six varieties: E. Thomson, 1. Pelargoniums, three teicolor and three bronze varieties; J. Gebbie. 1. Petnmas, three doable and three single varieties; r* Boses, six varieties; E. Thomson. I. Comfera, twelve named: E. Uhomson, 1; G. Matthews, 2. There were no exhibits of fuchsias or pelargoniums. t 8 2 -~~p at iFlowers.—Six pinks, best varieties : « Wilson, 1. Pansies, twelve best varieties; J. Wilson, 1. Boses, twelve best varieties (named): x' o* * * “* 2. Boses, six best varieties: Law, Somner, and Co., 1; J. Gebbie, 2. Fl ? w ers-—Gift flowers, best collection: J, Gebbie, I; G. Mathews, 2. Best bridal J -® e^ bie > 1 and 2. Best hand bonqu&cT J. Gebbie. Best table bouquet: J. Gebbie. Class 4. Fruit. Currants, best dish : G. Daniels, 1. Cherries, best dish: W. G&ttlv I Gooseberries, 24 heaviest; E. Hoy, 1 and 2. Straw.' berries, best dish: E. Hay, 1 and 2. i Class s.— Vegetables —Asparagus, 25; Langr™rflland o Cabbage, 2; Langmuir, 1 and 2. Cauliflower, 2: Longmmr, 1 and 2. Carrots. 6 • V W? 18 * 2 V PodB P PAB .24« Forsythj 1, Daniels, 2. Potatoes, two vmeties, twelve each; Langmuir, 1 and 2. Onions, six; Langmuir 1 and 2. Stalks Ehnfearb; Comissong, 1; Daniels. 2. Salad: Langmnir, 1 ; Q. Daniels, 2. Turnips, three white and three yellow : G. Daniels, 1 and 2

AMATEURS’ LIST. Class I.—Plants in Flower (grown in pots).— Stovo or Greenhouse Plants, three distinct genera: i . Hay, 1. Pine Foliage Plants,three dinniTnOm.. j? Hay, 1. Pelargoniums, two show and two fancy varieties: J. Crosbie. 1 and 2. Pelargoniums, twb double)and two single distinct varieties; E. Hay. 1; J. Crosbie, 2. Glass 2^— Cut Flowers.—Six carnations, best yarn ties: B.Hay, 1. Six picotees, best varieties t B. Hay, 1. Six pinks, best varieties: E. Hay. 1. Six pansies, best varieties: W. B, Ogiivie, 1 and 2 S x roses, named, best varieties; E. Hay, 1. Cut flowers : E Hay, 1. Best hand bouquet: J. Crosbie» * > 2. Best bouquet suitable for table: K. i±ay, 1. Class 3. —Fruit.—Best dish currants; E. Hay. 1 and 2. Best twelve cherries: E. Hay, 1. Best twenty-four strawberries: E. Hay J. and 2. Gooseberries, twenty-four heaviest; E. Hay, 1 and 2. Class 4.—Vegetables ;—No exhibits. COTTAGERS’ LIST. Class I.—Plants in flower (grown in pot):—Calceolaria: J, Crosbie, 1; T. Ireland, 2. Greenhouse plant: J. Crosbie, 1. Fuchsia: J. Crosbie, 1. Pem s J. Crosbie, 1; J. E, Pilewood, 2. Fancy pelargonium : T, Ireland, 1; J.|Crosbie, 2. Bronze polar• gonium: J. Crosbie, 1 and 2. Silver pelargonium : “• I Pj? Bb , l 0» 2-' Tricolor pelargonium: J. Crosbie, 1 uid 2. Bose: J. Crosbie 1. Petunia: J. Crosbie, 1. i Cut F >° w eiy-Tbree T * seß: J- Crosbie, l and 2, Six pansies: J. Crosbie. Six carnations, picotees, and pinks, two each; J. Crosbie. land 2. Hand bouquet: J. Crosbie. W C^Ogiivie' rait "~ TWeIVO teavießt gooseberries: