HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 146, 23 December 1846, Page 2

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Yesterday the first exhibition of the Society, this season, took place at the Aurora Saloon, Lambton-quay, and altogether it was one of the best that has occurred. The collection of vegetables was not quite so good as on some former occasions, but there was a beautiful display of fruits and flowers, which was the more' remarkable, as for the last two months the weather has been unusually dry. Several bouquets were exhibited, giving a lively and agreeable appearance to the room. Among the flowers, we noticed some fine specimens of picotees, some fine bulbs exhibited by Mr. Waitt, and a collection of flowering shrubs by Mr. St. Hill. The device exhibited by Mr. Hendry was much admired for the taste and ingenuity displayed in its construction. An ingenious device was also exhibited, which obtained am extra prize, and which, from the compliment it was intended to convey, attracted a good deal of observation. It was in the shape of a tablet, surrounded by a border of flowers of various hues. In the centre the word Grey was formed of multiflora roses, relieved with a back ground of oak leaves, and surmounted by a chaplet of perennial flowers. The whole was arranged with great taste, and had a very pleasing effect. The fruits, both in quality, and in the quantity exhibited, showed a great improvement on

former years, the cherries,, raspberries, and gooseberries, were very fine, and there were several competitors in each class. About three o'clock his Excellency visited the exhibition, and was received by the Secretary and other members of the Committee. He appeared to be very much pleased with the display, and seemed to take a great interest in the exhibition. The room was very fully attended during the day, and the exhibition appeared io give very general satisfaction. The number of exhibitors was thirty six ; there were only two native exhibitors, both of whom obtained prizes. The following is a list of prizes awarded : — Judges— Mr. Macarthy, Mr. Catchpool, Mr. Brady, Mr. Hendry, Capt. Rhodes. Vegetables. first prizes. v 12 potatoes, Mr. Swainson 12 pods of peas, Mr. A. M 'Donald 6 pods of beans, Dr. Dorset 2 heads of cauliflower, Mr. St. Hill 4 cabbages, Mr. Edwards 4 lettuces, Mr. Ross 4 turnips, Mr. Brandon 6 carrots, Mr. St. Hill 6 onions, Mr. Bold 6 stalks of rhubarb, Capt. Daniell 3 artichokes, Mr. Wilkinson Horse Radish, Mr. St. Hill SECOND PRIZES. 12 pods of peas, Mr. Ross 6 pods of beans, Mr. Hort 4 cabbages, Mr. Bold 4 turnips, Mr. Edwardi 6 onions, Dr. Dorset 6 stalks of rhubarb, Mr. Edwards Fruits. FIRST PRIZES. Strawberries, Mr. Wilkinson Cherries, Mr. G. Moore Gooseberries, Mr. Stokes Raspberries, Mr. Stokes White and red currants, Mr. Stokes Black currants, Mr. Ross Cucumber, Mr. Hort SECOKD PRIZE. Cucumber, Mr. Hickson EXTRA PRIZES. Gooseberries, Col. Wakefield Cucumber, Mr. Levin Flowers. FIRST PRIZES. Seedling Geranium, Mr. Hurst Collection of Geraniums, Mr. Hort 6 roses of different varieties, Mr. Stokes U2 annuals, Mr. Spinks 3 bulbous plants in flower, Mr. Waitt Bouquet, Mr. St. Hill Device, Mr. Hendry Picotees, Mr. J. M. Taylor EXTRA PRIZES. Bouquet, Mr. Hurst Device, Mr. G. Moore Picotees, Mr. Stokes Calceolaria, Mr. Wilkinson Cottagers' Prizes. FrusT prize. 4 varieties of vegetables, Mr. James SECOND PRIZE. 4 varieties of vegetables, Mr. Gascoigne Prizes for the Natives. FIRST PRIZE. Potatoes, George SECOND PRIZE. Potatoes, Zachariah.