THE FLORAL EXHIBITION.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 203, 17 January 1866, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE FLORAL EXHIBITION.

The hall of the Mechanics' Institute never presented a more gala appearance than it did on Tuesday, January 2, when, draped with flags and festooned with foliage of every hue, its contents were thrown open to public inspection. After the inclement spring and destructive gales experienced throughout the province we did not expect to see a very brilliant display, and therefore willingly confess to a feeling of pleasurable surprise at the amount of floral beauty collected. The centre of the building was occupied by a fairy forest of delicate leaf and blossom. A mimic fountain, its basins composed of native mosses, threw up a jet, not of water, but the spray of the toi-toi — the grass so much prized by the natives in the construction of their primitive dwellings. _ Even the very depths of the forest had been ransacked for the tall and graceful tree fern and chmbing plants. Seen from the gallery of the hall, the tout ensemble of varied hues, together with the elegant toilettes of ladies present, was most brilliant. The contrast between the hot wind blowing out of doors, driving occasional clouds of sharp dust before it, with the cool and perfumed atmosphere of the hall, was also a pleasant feature of the exhibition. Although imbued with the love of flowers we do not pretend to have dived deeply into the mysteries of floricultural science. Our readers must not expect an exhaustively professional description of the many beautiful plants. Among the first to attract attention was a geranium, " Distinction," a perfect mas 3of blossom so dense as to conceal the foliage beneath the roseate surface. Another " Perfection," with each flower more than two inches across, well deserved its name, and could, we think, hardly be surpassed. Then there was the " Delight," and " Eclat" geraniums, and perhaps the most imposing of all, the " Robusta," a giant of its tribe :— the " Magnet," with its clusters of scarlet flowers packed so closely that each main stem might almost have been taken for a bouquet. Then the " Diadem," with its deeply tinted horse-shoe leaf. Turn we now to the fuchias ; of these there was a full display in fine condition j among the most beautiful were " Splendens," a new variety, of symmetrical growth with large pink wax -like flowers ; " Reward," a tall and handsome plant, with magnificent crimson and purple flower leaves of a singular reflex growth. A specimen we must not omit' to notice was one of unusual height and dimensions, we felt almost inclined to call it a fuchsia tree. The calceolarias showed well and gave convincing proof of their acclimatization in their profusion of well shaped flowers. Specimens of numerous varieties of antirrhinums were displayed, but of these it is to be regretted the late hailstorm somewhat impaired the beauty. Euongh, however, remained to enable one to judge of what they would have been under more favorable circumstances. Some of the homely old favorites, the Sweetwilliams, particularly those of double blossoms, were very line j a Chinese variety displayed flowers nearly four timea the ordinary size. Of cut flowers there was quite a profusion, the exhibitor having been kindly favored With some ohoieo rosea &c., by John Blaoklook and W« H, Calder, S?<J«* With the. iattejf exception, tihe flfceteef^i §mm vm pwa H $t $\ ft

Morton, a resident of the subarban township M 'Master's Estate. Had the exhibition been the result of the united efforts of many contributors, it .would have been a most gratifying one j but when we consider that it is the work of one person — devoted certainly to his profession, but after all, only one of a numerous community- — we think he can hardly be too highly praised for the j perseverance' and tact requisite to bring together such a combination of what we may call works of nature assisted by art. We cannot close this notice without a word of remark with regard to the Horticultural and. Floral Association. We believo it is still in exis- . tence, although apparently hybernating tih late in the season, As one of the most powerful incentives to progress in the art of cultivation we think it is a pity such should be the case. The • capabilities of our climate and soil would, also be better published to the world by the facts elicited in a healthy competition between all classes— whether the amateur, cottar, or large agriculturist — than by anything that can be done by fine writing.