HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1079, 7 December 1911, Page 3

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

SCHOOL PKIZK ESSAY

The following is the essay for Dr. Mandl’s prize in connection with the recent Spring Show, There were seven competitors and the work was done in school hoars and judged by Mr Watson, headteacher at the Palmerston High School. Miss Inez Hodgson was awarded first prize and Miss Christina Lett second. The following is JVliss Hodgson's essay ; “ The Foxton Horticultural,

Floral aud Industrial Society's Spring Show was held this year on the 22nd and 23rd of November. Mr Speirs, the President. was given the honour of opening the .Show, aud in his speech made special mention in regard to the line display of roses and sweet peas. Owing to the inclemency ol the weather the attendance was not as good as it otherwise would have been, but in the evenings the rain did not seem to prevent many from attending. One would have thought that during the past trying weeks, what with the rain, hail and wind, nature had not bloomed to advantage, hut one was agreeably surprised upon visiting the Show. Although there was a couliuuous downpour of rain on the morning of the Show, it did not hinder any of the horticulturists from gathering and sending their exhibits. Is it that the art of horticulture lias been cultivated very much more during the last season or two, or is it that the local residents have made up their minds to give more assistance to this Society ? Perhaps both these suggestions are correct, and thus we are enabled to see why the Show has been such a distinct success this year. Perhaps the most striking feature of the Show was the magnificent display of roses. A space in the hah was allotted to two Palmerston nurserymen, who decorated it with all the choicest rose blooms that nature could provide. In the competition class there was also a fine collecii -.i, .a is showing that F'oxton dim.tie and soil is specially adapted tor rose cultivation. A delicate arrangement of sweet ! peas was very pleasing to the eye. i Much interest was taken in this ' class, and competition was very I keen. Among other flowers ex- | hibited were larkspurs, colum- | biues, petunias, pansies, picotees '■ and antirrhinums. Among the j pot plants there were tUree very ( line specimens, being by name, i one aspidistra, one asparagus ’ plumosa, and one asparagus ; spreugeri. These were the pro- i perty of local residents, and could j be compared with any other such | plants in our Dominion, The j vegetable and fruit class is well ’ worthy of mention. F'or the best j collection of vegetables, our school | boys were the successful competi- I tors, and one cau imagine how 1 proud they are of this win. When I looking at the citrous and lemons exhibited by Mr Brown of Otaki, | it could hardly be believed that j they had been growu in New Zea- | land, as they were considerably 1 better than some of them which j are imported into our country. A i plate of strawberries looked very i tempting, and in fact proved so j tempting, that some thoughtful t person relieved the exhibitor from j the trouble of carrying them home, j Perhaps the weakest class was 1 that of the cookery. There was ' very little competition in this and j those who did compete, their work ; was of a very poor standard. One j would naturally expect to see some j good work iu this class, for as a ! rule 011 c gels plenty of practice in j this ail. The nun preserves were j well worthy ol notice, and showed | that great care lunl been necessary j when preparing them. Another | conspicuous exhibit iu this class : was that of the non-separator j butter. The needlework, both j plain and fancy, was a meritorious I class. Some particularly line work j was sent in by a resident of Fcild- | ing, who secured the majority of ! the prizes. The school children's j work added much to the appear- j auce of the Show. What with j their writiug, mapping, drawing ; and sewing they made quite a i brilliant display. Thirteen do- | corated tables, which occupied the i stage of the hall, attracted general J attention. Five ol these were de- j corated by children aud the re- ! maiuing eight by ladies. The j prize tor the lady's tabie was j awarded by popular vole, Mrs C, j Robinson’s table secured this vole, and indeed it was well worthy of it. For her decorations she used eschscholtzias and fine grass, these both blending together gave the table a very effective appearance. Numerous were the bouquets, decorated baskets, buttonholes, epergnes and floral designs, besides two decorated bicycles, all of which materially enhanced the Show. Previous to this spring j show and owing to the Society's thoughtfulness, they managed in j August to hold a Bulb Siiow. This was very encouraging for bulb fanciers as it gave them a chance of exhibiting their blooms, which otherwise they could not have exhibited, as it is lar Loo late for them iu November. The hall presented quite, u animated scene in the evenings, Mr Betty's orchestra discoursed sweet music, which enlivened the proceedings to a great extent. Very amusing was a hat trimming competition which took place the second evening. The comic part of il was j thatj gentlemen had to trim the j hats, aud as one readily understands they used little discretion in choosing their colours. Three ladies from the audience kindly ; consented to judge these hats, and eventually the prize was giv.-n to Mr Howe, There was also a weight guessing competition. After paying one shilling, one

could have a guess as to the weight of the carcase of a sheep, which was 011 view. The person guessing the correct weight became the owner of the carcaseLast but uot least the ladies who had charge of the refreshment rooms deserve a special word oi praise. For the small sum of sixpence they gave one a dainty afternoon tea or supper. Without a iuubt these repasts must have been good, lor during the course of fhe evening, one lad paid three visits to these apartments."