CHRYSANTHEMUMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 6 May 1925, Page 4

CHRYSANTHEMUMS

DISPLAY AND PRESENTATION OF PRIZES

There was a large, attendance at the Foresters’ Hall last evening, when a display of ehrysanthesmums was held, special prizes won at the recent show were presented, and a review of Nelson. Horticultural Society’s show was given by the judge. The president of the Chrysanthemum Club, Mr W. H. Simpson,’ referred to the magnificent success of tiie first show held since the formation of the Club and said' much of that success was due to the enthusiasm of the members. Nelson had established a record for tiie number of specimen blooms staged for New Zealand and it was believed for Australia, viz 520, without taking into, account a trade display of 60 or 70 blooms. Besides these were 24 entries in the spray classes, five in pot plants, and of course a large number of decorative exhibits. The total number of exhibitors of chrysanthemums was 42. Reference was also made to the distribution of the prizes, it being stated that of 17 competitors in the open classes, no fewer than 12 obtained at least one first prize, indicating the high general quality of the exhibits. The fact that there were 14 exhibitors in the novice classes augured will for future shows. Members of'the Club had been invited to enter blooms for a competition for three Japanese and one Japanese. About 60 flowers were staged—many of them, of the highest quality —and these Were judged by Mr CL A. Harkness, who iu a most interesting manner demonstrated his principles and methods of judging, enabling those present to get a thorough knowledge of what was looked for by the judge on tlie show stand. The first prize for three Japanese was won bv fill's Vergurson' and the second by Mrs Stephens/ For one .Japanese the first, prize went to Mrs S. F. Hockey and the second to Mrs Vergurson. Following the competitions Mr Harknesa supplemented his remarks with further useful points on chrysanthemum judging, and also gave a general review of the recent show, pointing out various matters that had come under his notice; as judge, lie extended his congratulations to the Club on the splendid show, and said that he considered it a great honour to be. asked to judge such a show.

The chairman conveyed to Mr Harkness the Club’s warmest thanks for the. painstaking, thorough, and conscientious, manner in which lie had fulfilled the duties of judge at the show, and congratulated hint on the all-round satisfaction he had given to exhibitors. A large number of special prizes won by members of the Club at the show were then presented by Mrs Simpson-,, wife of the President, each recipient being heartily applauded. Mr L. M. Est court, the Secretary of the Club, expressed thanks to all who had assisted in making the recent show such. grand success. Among the exhibits stagedTust night were the champion bloom ("Louisa Pockett’ ) and the best- “J. S. Lloyd.” grown by Mr J. Hockey, but not competing; a very fine white, “Snowdrift,” a sport from a yellow variety “Mrs Norman Bnyles,” by Mrs Vergurson and fit to take a place alongside the best whites in commerce : also a number of seedling chrysanthemums raised by Mrs Merrick, including a good red and several pinks-, all of which are worth growing on as they contain possibilities of developing into really good sorts.