HUTT VALLEY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 18, 27 September 1928, Page 3

HUTT VALLEY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

SPRING SHOW. The best of weather favoured the Hutt for its Flower Show which was held last Thursday and Friday. The openiag ceremony was performed by Sir. Heaton Rhodes who was introduced by the \\csident of the Society, Mr. L. T. Watkins. The committee is again to be complimented on the successful Spring Show The Secretary, Mr A. J. Nicholls, with an energetic band of workers, both ladies and gentlemen, worked very hard to bring the show to such a successful issue. It speaks volumes for the committee, anl its popular president (Mr. L. T. Watkins), when such a big and difficult organisation runs so smoothly. Satisfac--01 tion was expressed on all sides both by visiting and local exhibitors. The ton. rooins^were capably run by a number of ladies under Mesdames Bayne and Jai«hop. A well stocked flowe,r stall was managed by Mesdames Hendry and Yates and a very profitable sweet stall by Mesdames Kersley, Bock, Alexander, Mi33es Watkins, Kersley and Findlay. The decorative sections were not ouistanding, although some very beautiful work was exhibited. There was keen rivalry in the class for posies and some very pretty work was shown. The decorated tables did not receive much attention. An innovation that was appreciated by the children this year was the cla33 for Decorated Horseshoe. The foliage plant of the Brassica family exhibited by Mr. W. Smith, perhaps attracted more attention than any other single exhibit in the Show. The results of the judging was as fellows :— A silver gilt R.H.S. medal was awarded Sir Heaton Rhodes for his display of daffodils for exhibition only; silver medals to Mr. H. J. Poole, for his general collection of pot plants, and to Mr. W. H. Barker, for a display of cineraria and cyclamen; a bronze medal to Mr A. J. Hobbs for a stand of daffodils, itf.d R.H.S. certificates to Mr. D. S. Patrick for rhododendrons and polyanthus, and to Mr. E. L. Riddiford (Mr. Clark gardener) for polyanthus in pots. Mr. Riddiford generously gave his exhibit to the society to be sold for the benefit cf its funds. Mr. H. J. Poole secured the points prize, which makes him the holder of the Licensed Victuallers' Cup for the year; Mr. R. Gibson,. the points prize in the single bloom class, which carries with it Mr. H. J. Poole's trophy; Mr. H. J. Poole secured the Madden Cup, and Mr. H, Witchell the Law Cup for the single bloom class. The cup. presented by the professional and business men of Lower Hutt as a points prize in the amateur class v. r is won outright by Mr. W. Slater. The A. E. Lowe memorial trophy for twelve varieties of narcissi raised in New Zealand was won outright by Mr. R. Gibson. The champion of champions and Kie best trumpet in the show was a "Renown" shown by Mr. A. H. Bur^ss, which also was awarded an R.H.S silver ' medal. The judge said of this bloum that it was the finest of its kind he had yet seen exhibited at any show. The best non-trumpet in the show was a "Golden Ace" exhibited by Mr. Jo-m Martin. The Nankivell trophy for the best unnamed seedling was awarded to Mr. O. E. Buckingham. The general awards were: — Daffodils (open class) : H. J. Poole, 14 firsts and 4 seconds; R. Gibson, 3 firsts and 7 seconds; A. W. Burgess, 2 firsts and 1 second; W. W. Broadway, a first and a second, and F. Westbury, 7 rcconds. Daffodils (open single bloom class) : R. Gibson, o firsts and 1 second; H. J. P<-oie 3 firsts and 2 seconds; A. H. Burgees, 2 firsts and 3 seconds; and F. Westbury, 3 firsts and 2 seconds. In the New Zealand seedling class, Mr. H. J. Poole, 4 firsts and 1 second; Mr. S. H. D. Peryman 2 firsts and 1 second j and Mr. C. E. Buckingham, 2 firsts. In amateur class for narcissi, J. Ball, 4 firsts and 4 seconds; P. R. Sisson, 2 tffeirsts and 2 seconds; D. F. Howell and J- Martin, each 2 firsts; W. Slater, 1 first; S. T. Wakelin, A. J. P. Thomson, S. H. D. Peryman and W. H. Wilson, each 1 second. In the amateur single bloom class: H. Witchell, 5 firsts; Mrs J. MaTtin and D. F. Howell, each 1 first; P. R. Sisson, 3 • seconds; Mrs. V. Munford, 2 seconds; S. H. D. Peryman and J. R. Boyd, each. 1 second. Juvenile Class.—Stephen Hobbs end R. Burgess each 1 first and 1 second; P. R. Sisson, Joan Fenwick, and M. D. Dun : can each 1 first, and A. W. Stainton, Jean Adams and L. Morrison each 1 second.

Mrs. P. Walker and Mrs. R. Walker secured 1 firsthand second prizes in the decorated tables class (judge's award). In the general decorative section Mrs. M. Hobbs, 2 firsts and 1 second; Miss L. Morrison and Phyllis Stupples, eacii 2 firsts; Mrs M. D. Duncan, 1 first and 2 seconds; Mrs P. Walker, 1 first; Mrs A. G. W. Jarman, 2 firsts, and Miss E. Schneider 1 first. In the open general classes, H. "V. Dyke, 3 firsts; Mi-. H. J. Poole and D. S. Patrick, each 2 firsts; J. B. Butcher, a first and a second; Mrs H. G. Gordon G. .A. Chapman, and Mrs. J. Pepper, each - first; Mrs. O, Bews, Mrs E. Charlesworth, and A. Johnson, each 1 second. In the amateur general class, Mrs M\ D. Duncan, Mrs. T. SMpage, A. Jamioson, Mrs. A. G. W. Jarman, Mrs. J. MVsGill, Mr. W. Smith, and Mrs S. Smith, each 1 first; Joan Powles, Mrs K. Backer, H. V. Dyke, each 1 second.

NOTES ON THE SHOW. (By C. E. Buckingham). The Spring show of the Hutt Valloy Horticultural Society, held in King George Theatre, was a great success, both socially and financially, and from a horticultural point of view one of the best in the history of the Hutt society. Tl;e outstanding exhibit was, to my mind, the splendid stand of narcissi (over .100 vases) from the garden of Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, and great credit is due to his gardener (Mr. A. K. Wilson), for the way they were grown and put up. This exhibit was much admired. Among the trade exhibits a fine staid of cinararias and various other pot plants was put up by Mr. H. J. Poolo, and well deserved the award of R.H.S. silver medal, Mr. A. McMillan put up a nice lot of well grown plants in many varieties, all balled, ready for planting; also eat flowers. Mr. A. E. HurrelFs lovely lot of f reesias, well grown, and in many shades, were much admired. The R.H.S. Silver "Medal was awarded to Mr. W. H. Barker, a new exhibitor, who put up a very fine stand of pot plants, all well grown and very clean. Mr. J7 E. Butcher had a lovely lot of well grown and clean anemonias. Mr. A. J. Hobbs had a very fine stand of narcissi for exhibition only, which was awarded R.H.S. bronze medal. From private gardens came some very fine exhibits, notably that from the gardens of Mr. E. Riddoford (gardener, Mr. T. Clarke). This was a very fine stand of polyanthus, in pots, all well grown and many line colours. Mr. Riddiford vecy kindly donated the whole of this exhibit to the Society for sale, and needless to say the funds of the society benefitted considerably. Another exhibit of outstanding morit was the fine lot of polyanthus, in pots, and cut rhododendrons, very much admired. These came from the garden uf Mr. D. S. Patrick. The competitors in the various clashes were very keen, and in nearly all eases staged their exhibits to the best advantage. As showing the number of well known growers at the Show I append a list of those I had the pleasure of knovring:—Sir. R. Heaton Rhodes, Mr. H. T. Trevena, Mr. A. K. Wilson, Mr. R. Gibson, Mr. Pepperill, Mr. H. Poole, Mr. H. Poole (junr.), Mrs. John Martin, Mr. A. W. Broadway, Mr. A. H. Burgess tnd Miss Burgess, Mr. F. Westbury, Mr. A. J. Hobbs, Mr. W. H. Booth, Mr and Mrs. Witchell, Mr. A. Thomson, Mr. W. Slater, Dr. J. R. Boyd and Mrs Boyd, Mr. J. Bell, Mr. S. Wakelin, Mr. J. Ball, Mr. P. Instone, Mr. P. R. Sisson, Mr. G. Gaudm, Mr. H. Small. These are all interested in the culture of the narcissi, and with such a keen lot of growers, things look good for future shows. To come to the many very fine and new blooms shown in the narcissi classes, I append a list of those that appealed to me as first-class exhibition flowers: — Yellow Trumpets —Renown, Buxtai, Lord Roberts, Golden City. Bicolour Trumpets —Maharajah, Marshal Foch, The Don, Conquerer. White Trumpets —Kantara, Beersheba. (These are not yet acclimatised). Red Cups —Incomparabilis and Barriis, Flashlightning, Scarlet Queen, Killigrc-v, OTange Glow, Scarlet Pimpernell, Militant, Croesus, Maeebearer, Lady Superior, St. Just, Miss Wilmott, Queen of Hearts, Pixie and Lillian McLean. Leedsiis—Tenedos, White Nile, Thordis, Silver Plane, A beautiful seedling from Silver Plane as yet unnamed, Basilia, Silverene, Kingdom. Yellow and Bicolour Incomparabilis — Gold Ace, very much like Springbok, Golden Perfection, Sprinkbok, Royalty, Yellow Poppy. Poetieus —Mrs Weightman, very fine. Other Division —Trevethian, Milk and Honey, Apricot Phoenix, Ingleeoivibe

Phoenix, Glorious, Medusa, Scarlet GeJi. The champion bloom was a lovely Renown, shown by Mr, A. H. Burgess. This is the most consistent variety I have ever seen. The champion bloom, other than Trumpet, was awarded to Mrs. J. Martin for a beautiful deep yellow Ineom. Gold A.cc. The Society is very fortunate in haviag Mr. L. T. Watkins as president; also the new secretary Mr. A. J. Nicholls, who got through a tremendous amount of work and the committee are all due for special praise for the trying time tlicy had at this great show.