HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2815, 26 February 1908, Page 10

HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

By. J. Gebbie,

The autumn show of the Balclutha Horlicultural Society was he'd in the Oddfellows' Hall on Friday and Saturday, February 14 and 15. Glorious weather prevailed on both days, and the attendance was <>ati=factory. Considering the excessive drynf=s> of the season the show \\-a9 a \ery credit i-ble one, and refloctcrj credit on the horticulturists and all concerned with the function. All the tabes were draped in white, and a» the various exhibits were tastefully arranged, flic hall had a \ery attracthe appearance. In the open class for competition only two entered pot plants, but these wei-c exceptionally good, Mrs W. Stewart carrying off first f«ard for four zonale pelargoniums, ami Mr C. E. Naish first for two lots of begonias. The plants of these two exhibitors were we'l grown, and the trusses of the pelargoniums were of the largest size and borne m profusion. A table of pot plants and cut flowers, shown by V. E. Naish, secured a pair of -wises valued at 30s-. In the amateurs class there was consitlerab'c competition. Mrs W. Stewart being the puncipal prize-taker. Miss Clarke., W. Bo.id, W M. Allen, Miss Keeley, Mrs Crawfoid. and Mrs C. E. Naish also secured aw a i (7s. In cut flowers the competition was ker r both m bhe amateur and open sections. []■ the open c'ass Mr C. E. Naish gained >'■ c mo'r awards, and in the amateur Mr W. M Allen secured most points, winninga pi 17" oT £2 10s. Air James Reid, a Kailangata exhibitor, had a good exhibit of Fif-nch and African marigolds, and with thiee exhibits secured three first puzes. Mr Oeorgp A.itchison, _of the same district, secured fiist prize foi dahlias, and also for p.\iei peas, being first in an entry of 11. This wa-- an sspeciallv fine exhibit, and included such beautiful \aneties as Gladys Uiiwin. Holon Pierce, -Countess Spencer, Dorothy Eekfoid. E. 0. Castle, and others. In tile fruit section there was a very pleading disp^y of apples, plums, pears, apricots, grapes, gooseberries, raspberries, and logan berries. The vegetables were very <;oocl. but some of the exhibits were spoiled b> being put clown just as they were lifted from the ground, and a few of the oolleo tions might have been better arranged. However, taken as a whole, the exhibit of vegetables was a, good one, upholding the reputation of the district as the garden of the south. In the school competition for a collection of six varieties of vegetables grown in a school garden plot, thcie were «e\en entries. Alex. Bain and Roy Pennvoook gaining first prize, E. Gilmour and T. Maker second. T. Brown and H. Simpson third. For hand bouquet by school children there was only one entry, that of Minnie Fleming, anil she was gi\en (lie first prizp. One wotilrl ha\e expeoted greater competifion in tin's section. For co'lection of floweis giown in school garden plot, the r ir«t and second prizes were donated by the Rev. G. W. Davidson, and brought out eighi competitor I',1 ', Mona Leeder securing first and Jessie Symons second In addition to the competition classes. Mr T. Telford had an interesting exhibit of cut flowe.3, in which Delphinium zalil, the yel-low-flowered larpspur, was conspicuous, and attracted a great deal of attention fron. \ isifor>. The gladioli, zinnias, and asters in tliis collection were remarkably fine, and cainc in for a share of attention. Messrs How den and Moncrieff, the well-known nurserymen, had a fine lot of asparagus, fuchsias, begonias, and palms on exhibition, nice clean healthy plants, which found a rea'N =ale. Mr Naish, an old resident of Tin ]( lndia, showed a fine collection of FORTHCOMING SHOWS. The Timaru Floral and Horticultural Society holds its annual show on Thursday and Fiiday, February 27 and 28, and it promises to be as successful as its piedecessors. Prizes are offered for 150 sections in fruits, floweis. and vegetables, so that if there is competition in e\ery section that will mean a big show. A week later (March 5) the Oainain Horticultural holds its autumn exhibition of flowers, fruits, and vegetables. The schedule of prizes to be awarded is a liberal one, and besides the usual money prizes, there is the Oama.ru Mail Trophy, valued at 20gs a!*o a solid silver bowl valued at lOgs. for competition in sweet peas. There are thus great inducements to horticulturists to make the show a success. Gladioli and dahlias, besides fruit and vegetables, are liberally pio\ided for, so that given good weather, i.j- is anticipated that tlie show will bo a good one The autumn sliow of the Dunedin HorticuHuir. 1 Society is fixed for March 11. and nromi-c 5 to be up to the l^ual standaid. The leading feature of this -show is the dahlias and prizes i angina- from 2gs clownwards are offered for Ihe-.e autumnal flower', which should be at their best at that time. Gladioli and sweet peas ous>ht also to be well represented, as liberal prizes are offered. In addition to the=e. pio\ision is made for orchids, stove and <jieen house plants, begonias, ferns, etc.. ako for fruit Bnd vegeta.b'ss. POTATO DISEASES. A new edition of the Bulletin on Potato Disease has just been issued 'by the Department of Agriculture, and is a complete guide to those who wish to keep their crops healthy or check the ravages of disease or pests which make their appearance. The first issue of the Bulletin, published two years ago, proved useful to many who followed out the instruction* given. The present issue gives some particulars of the most common insect pests of the potato, with instructions for treatment. As some of the potato diseases affect tomatoes, petunias, and other srarden plants, this Bu'letin No. 7 will be useful tp horticulturists as well as to farmers It is as necessary to keep the small lot of potatoes in the kitchen garden

free fiom disease as {he Lugci aiea of the farmer. TRAGEDY PRUNE. Thy pumes of the shops arc merely -wuie.tlC<s of p i ums w hldl ha\e gone thl'ough a plos;c^ o f dvyirur, and tbe soits best ac Kpted for this purpose ha\e been <lcMgn J ated prulles . Some of them are unsatißstone. It ripens during February, ami will hang on the tree for a long time afterwards ™*<™ » - '^^^.'ndi^ St"! "en in a vouijsr state, and . fiom what 1 ha^e seen of its many good qua it es 1 w ?" * ," Ot "estate to recommeiKl it to be added to evev J' collection of P lums