HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY’S EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5005, 9 April 1877, Page 7

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY’S EXHIBITION.

The autumn exhibition held on March 22nd in the Oddfellows’ Hall under the auspices of the Wellington Horticultural Society was even more successful than usual. The exhibits were very numerous, and exceedingly good, and as the weather was fine the attendance was very large, especially in the evening. During the afternoon his Excellency the Governor visited the show, being received at the door and conducted around the room by A. de B. Brandon, Esq. The vegetables were particularly fine on this occasion, the recent weather having been most favorable for kitchen garden operations'; and we doubt whether at any previous show the exhibits of yesterday in this department have been surpassed. The collections on trays were excellent, and the peas, beans, carrots, celery, cucumbers, parsnips, and tomatoes in .both the gardeners’ and amateurs’ classes •alike were very fine. Amateurs, however, produced some cabbages and potatoes which ;quite put to the blush the contributions of the gardeners. The enormous size of the melons, pumpkins, marrows, and cucumbers deserves special notice. In vegetables, Messrs. Mason, Valentine, Corbett, Russell, and Laing were the chief exhibitors, and it is greatly to their credit that they could till a room with such tangible proofs of the pains they had taken in raising good eatable vegetables for the market. Before leaving the department reference must be made to the feed turnip and mangold wurzels shown in competition for Mr. G. Hunter’s prize. The exhibits were of fair quality, but Mr. Hunter, besides offering a prize to_ encourage the growth of these productions, showed by example what could be done, for an extra exhibit of his was much better than those to which the prizes were awarded. The fruit exhibits were equally as fine as those in the vegetable department. Mr. P. Laing s collection of fruit, including strawberries, raspberries, currants, figs, nuts, &c., and about a dozen varieties of apples and pears, was really superb. And then the magnificent grapes were a treat to look at. Mr. McKay’s, Mr. Gill’s, and Mr. W. T. L. Travers’ exhibits were really a credit to the province, and formed a very attractive feature in the fruit collection. The exhibits in the apple classes were very fine. For cut blooms the season is fast passing away, and the collections of cut flowers, few in number, were by no means gay. Mr. Mason’s dahlias and a special lot of seedlings were the only exhibits in that class worth looking at, and, for the time of the year, they were doubtless very good. As might have been expected, the roses were shabby. The one or two exhibits of phloxes were good.

Collections of annuals aud biennials, asters, verbenas, and similar small flowers, were of a very ordinary character, but Mr. H. H. Travers showed some very nice gladioli, and some excellent bulbs were shown by other exhibitors. Those who had undertaken to make art improve nature produced some very nice floral ■ devices aud hand bouquets, for which they were duly rewarded, as will be observed by the prize list. The foliage plants which covered the centre bench of the room were very grand, and collections of native plants aud New Zealand ferns were features worthy of a passing notice. Annexed is the prize list: — FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. Gardeners.—Dessert Melon—lt. Donald, first. 12 Kitchen Apples-T. Mason, first; B. Itayuov, second. 12 Dessert Apples—T. Mason, first; P. Laing, second. 6 Pears—C. Duncan, first: H. H. Travers, second. 12 Plums—None worthy, Figs—None worthy, 12 Peaches—J. H. Corbett, first; \V. Bramley, second 2i Mulberries—None worthy. 24 ->panish Blackberries—C. Duncan, first. 4 Oranges —T. M.son, first. 4 Lemons—T. Mason, first. 3 Bunches White Grapes —No competition. Filberts or Oob Nuts —T. Mason, first : C. Duncan, second. Walnuts—Duncan, first; Corbett, second. Collection of Fruit on tray—P. Laing, first, 2 Cucumbers—K. Donald, first; J. H. Corbett, second. C stalks Rhubarb, F. Cooper, first; W. Frier, second. Kidney Beans (runners)—Raynor, first : Russell, second. Kidney Beans (other kinds) —J. H. Corbett, first; P. Laing, second. Broad Beans—None worthy. Green Peas—G. Gibb (gardener to the Hon. W. B. Rhodes), first; T. Mason, second. Kidney .potatoes—H. Russell, first, J. H. Corbett, second. Round Potatoes—T. Mason, first; J. tl. Corbett, second. 3 Cabbages—Corbett, first: Gibb, second. Red Cabbages - Laing, first: P. Beckett, second. Turnips—Russell, first; Corbett, second. Carrots— Gibb, first; McNab, second. Cauliflowers—Mason, first; Laing, second. Parsnips—Mason, first; Laing, second. Red Beet —C. Duncan, first; Win. Prior, second. Lettuce —G. Gibb, first; Corbett, second. Onions—Gibb, first; Laing, second. Celery—Bosben .(gardener to Mr. Hunter), first; Corbett, second. Tomatoes —Laing, first; Corbett, second. Capsicums —Laing, first. Pumpkins—Mann, first: J. Anstis, second. Vcgetab'e Marrows—Russell, first; Corbett, second. Collection of Salads on tray—Laing, first; Corbett, second. Collection of Vegetables on tray— Laing, first; Corbett, second. Collection of Potatoes on tray—Mason, first; Corbett, second. Amateurs.—l2 Kitchen Apples—J. Burne, second. 12 Desert Apples—J. Burne, second. 12 Peaches —J. Burne, second. Spanish Blackberries—J. Burne, second. Melons, Plums, Figs, Mulberries—No exhibits. Oranges, Lemons, White Grapes, Filbert or Cob Nuts. Walnuts, Collection of Fruit on tray— None worthy. 2 Cucumbers— N. Valentine, first; M. Read, second. C Stalks of Rhubarb—None worthy. Kidney . Beans (runners) —M. Read, first. Kidney Beans (other kinds) —Read, first; J. Burne, second. Peas Read, first; Valentine, second. Kidney Potatoes Russell, first ; Valentine, second. Round Potatoes—Russell, first; Valentine, second. 3 Cabbages Russell, first ; Valentine, second. Red Cabbage—None worthy. Turnips—Russell, first; Valentine, second. Carrots Valentine, first: Read, second. Cauliflowers — None worthy. Parsnips—No first prize awarded ; Valentine, second. Red Beet — a one worthy. Lettuce—None worthy. 1 nions—Russell, first; Read, second. Celery—None worthy. Tomatoes—No first prize awarded; M. Read, second. Capsicums—None worthy. Pumpkins—Parris, first; W. Russell, second. Vegetable Marrows —W. Russell, first; Cherritt, second. Potatoes—W. Russell. FLOWERS. Gardeners,—Pot Plants: New or Rare Plant—J. McNab, first; F. Cooper, second. Specimen Plant in Flower—H. H. Travers, first; F. Cooper, second. Native Plant—F. Cooper, highly commended. 2 Variegated Folinge Plants, varieties—McKay, first ; Cooper second. 4 Variegated Foliage Plants, varieties—McKay first; Cooper, second. Greenhouse Plants in flower—McKay, first; Cooper, second, 3 Coleus—McNab, first; Mackay, second. 3 Begonias, in flower—H. H. Travers, first; Mackay, second. 3 Begonias, in foliage—Mackay, first. 4 Geraniums, bi and trioolored—No first prize awarded: Cooper, second. 3 Fuchsias—Cooper,' first; Mackay, second, 1 Fuchsia—Cooper, first; Mackay, second. New Zealand Ferns, in pots—Mackay, first: Cooper, second. Exotic Ferns and Allies—McNab, first. Climbing Plant (variegated)—McKay, first: Cooper, second. Plants for Table Decorations, in s*inph pots —Cooper, first : McKay, second Collection of Native Plants, in pots—H. H. Travers, first. Amateurs,—Specimen Plant,in flower —None worthy. Variegated Foliage Plant —Travers, second. 2 Greenhouse Plants, in flower, of distinct genius—Travers, first. Coleus—J. Burne, first; Phillips, second. Begonias, in flower—Travers, first: Burne, second. Foliage Begonias—Travers, first; Phillips, second. 2 Geraniums, J. Burne, second. Fuchsias—Travers, first. Achimenes—Burne, first. Climbing Plant in flower—Travers, first. Exotic Ferns aud Allies— Travers, first. COT FLOWERS. Gardeners.—Collections of Annuals and Biennials, varieties—Mason, first; Phillips, second. 6 Verbenas—Cooper, first; McNab, second. 12 Verbenas — McNab, first. Collection of Phlox—Donald, first; Mason, second. C Dahlias -Mason, first; Cooper, second. 2Dahlias—Mason, first. 6 Bulbs--Mason, second. Collection of Cut Flowers, not less than 18 species—R. Donald, first; Cooper, second. Collection of Native Plants, in any stage of fruit or flower —C. Duncan, jun., first; W. Bramley, second. 0 Roses — T. Mason, first; Cooper, second. Amateurs.—G Verbenas, varieties - Travers, first ; Phillips, second. 12 Verbenas Phillips, first; Travers, second. 6 Gladiolus Spikes—Travers, first, 12 Gladiolus Spikes— Travers, second. Collection oi Cut Flowers, not less than 18 varieties —Trav rs, first. Collection of Native Plants, in any stage of flower or fruit—Miss A. Bassett, first; Miss N. Bassett, highly commended. Bouquets, &c. (open to all). —Dressed Flower Stand, Mrs. McNab, first. Hand Bouquet, not more than 5 inches, Mrs. .McNab, first; Miss Duncan, second. Hand Bouquet of Native Flowers, Mrs. McNab, first; Miss Duncan, second. Bridal Bouquet, Mrs. McNab, first. Mr. Common’s Special prize, Mrs. McNab, first Miss Hales, second. SPECIAL PRIZES. Mr. McKay’s prize for heat 2 bunches AVhite Grapes—Cooper, prize. Mr. Freeman's prize for Beat Collection of Fruit—No entry. Mr. McNab’s prize for Heaviest Bunch Black Grapes —McKay. Mr. J. Burne’s prizes for Best. Two Bunches Black Grapes —McKay, first; Gibb, second ; Mr. W. T. L. Travers, very highly commended. Capt. Thomas’ prize for Best Collection Vegetables—No entiy. Mr. McGinnity’s, prize lor Best "Collection Fruit grown by a Cottager— No entry. Mr. P. Laing's prize for Best Collection Vegetables grown by a Cottager—No entry. Mr. G. Hunter’s prize for 12 Mangolds, 12 Feed Carrots, 12 Swedes (exhibitor to have at least half an acre of the plant exhibited under cultivation) —T. Mason, first: J. H. Corbett, second.