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HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

'SPRING BULBS."

Lectures delivered under the auspices of .the Dunedin Horticultural Society have a reputation for providing entertainment of a useful kind, and supplying thoee who hear them with many valuable hints. This and the reputation of the lecturer (Mr H. L. Darton, of Lawrence) possibly accounted for the large attendance at the Technical School on Wednesday. 11th inst., when the subject was "Spring Bulbs." Mr J. C. Thomson was chairman, and introduced the lecturer with the hint that what he said would be well worth talent? a note of.

The lecturer first touched on the daffodil, and took his hearers back to the ancient myth Narcissus, not the flower comparing so favourably with the nicst beautiful specimens of the hothouse, luit to the son of the river god and hero of the Greek fable, who fell enamoured of his own reflection in the water, and perished of love-sickness. Hence the name of the flower alleged to have sprung up on the spot where he die. The lecturer dealt with the old varieties, and went on to 6ay that during the last 50 jears much time had been spent in searching for new ones. In Eassing l.c referred to "Ansel's Tears," ut speedily dissipated' a budding idea by stating that the term had nothing to do with the angels his hearers knew so well, but was so called after a lad named Angel, who on discovering the flower wept at having to disturb it. Having finished with the classic phase in which the old varieties arc supposed to repoee in scented slumber, the lecturer pointed out how all this had now been changed, the enchanter's wand being nothing- more soulful than fertiliser. The raising of seedlings had now pafc&od into a science. Dealing with nomenclature. Mr Darton made a good point, and much pleased his audience, by asking "Why not use Maori names?" Certainly such ccmjpared very favourably with some he

f quoted, and it was evident, as he said, that if such a list went on much longer the Government would have to interfere. Explaining that his lecture had been divided into four parts — classification, cultivation, fertilisation, and acclimatisation. — he proceeded to deal with, each in the order named, illustrating some very able remarks by diagrams on blackboards. It was made evident that no great skill or obstruse study was necessary to be a successful grower of spring bulbs, the primary essentials being good loam and plenty ot attention. The lecturer's statement con cerning a rare variety, that its originator had waited 18 years before it became known to the world, seemed to show that in spring bulbs, as in literature, one is expected to be content to work for posterity. His audience seamed, however, to take heart of grace from another remark to the effect that there were at least three varieties grown in Dunedin which were not known to the authorities *at Home. Mr Darton gave several illustrations of how things should be and should not be done, and showed several implements which came in useful, and explained how to use them. In conclusion he stated that if the date of the Dunedin Horticultural Sopiety'a epring' show was in any way suitable, there was every prospect of increased entries from Lawrence. The discussion which followed was of an illuminating nature, and a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Darton for his lecture was carried with unanimity and enthusiasm.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW19090818.2.38

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 18 August 1909, Page 10

Word count
Tapeke kupu
573

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 18 August 1909, Page 10

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 18 August 1909, Page 10

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