The Garden.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 378, 19 June 1889, Page 6

The Garden.

* 1 ( „ 'By Hortus.)

Chrysanthemum Society. Tins above Socioty is now fairly launched. The objects of the Society are simply to promote a more extended culture of this flower. They do not take up any other branch^ of horticultural work, and* this, I think, is a pity, as Auckland is not quite strong enough to support a number of horticultural societies devoted to single objects. Still it behove" all gardeners to do the best they can to help any organisation that has for its object tho improvement of any class of fruit, flowers or vegetables. The special objects of the Society are :— (1.) Exhibitions. (2.) Providing staging accommodation tioe of expense for all members de&irousof exhibiting at the Society's show. (3.) Assisting members to obtain collections of chrysanthemums (4.) Issuing to the members plain printed directions tor cultivation. (5.) Furnishing tho members with allin formation in regard to chrysanthemum matters. (6.) By such, other means as the Society may see fit from time to time to adopt. Besides the above there are numbers of rules and regulations which intending subscribers should endeavour to obtain from the standing committoo : Mr A. E. Dewes, Box 84, Post Offico, Auckland ; Mr C. W. Sandei-3, St. Stephen's Road, Parnell ; Mr J. YV. Tibbs, Auckland College and Grammar School. Early application should be made for memboi's' tickets, as a Hat of plants required by them should be given to the diderent nurserymen during tho next two months so that they may be able to supply the varieties required.

Camellia Show. Several of the parties that brought about that very successful camellia exhibition in Newmarket last spring, are now moving to bring about another camellia show in that district this incoming season. Although the exhibition ia going to be held under the name of a camellia show, prizes will be offered for all the different late winter and early spring flowers. Fruits will also receive due attention at the hands of the Committee. The Committee have already been taking preliminary steps in the way of trying to obtain special prizes, and the few of the local tradespeople who have been interviewed have intimated that they will do the best they can for the exhibition. The last camellia show held in Newmarket was one of the best little shows held in the subui'bs of Auckland. The present, it is said, will be even much better, as cultivators are this season growing more of the better class of spring flowering bulbs and tubers. There is great promise that if the spring show is a success a permanent Horticultural Society will be instituted in this district, where they would hold small spring and autumn shows, with a chrysanthemum and camellia show during the late autumn and winter. lam glad to see that some of the horticulturists are not discouraged by the recent lack of interest taken in the Royal Horticultural Society. I would also like to see one or two other suburbs initiate similar societies in their districts.

Jubilee Farm, Produce, and Flower Show Several of our Auckland horticulturists have under discussion the advisability of holding an exhibition of farm and garden produce during jubilee week, which will be during the lasbweekin January next. Steps will be taken to try and get the general committee who are arranging the jubilee celebration to give their assistance. His Worship the Major of Auckland has always taken a great interest in horticultural matters, and he will no doubt give all the assistance in his power not only to promote but also to make the affair a success. The advisability of holding such an exhibition is at present being discussed by a few, but steps should at once be taken to call a meeting ot gardeners or those who take an interest therein. A singular meeting should be called by the farmers, and these meetings should elect a small committee, who could draw up rules, schedule and regulations for conducting the exhibition properly. A section of the exhibition should also be loft for local manufactures, of preserved fruit?, vegetables, fish, or any branch which would show our food-produc- ( ing capabilities. Cultivators of all kinds phould recollect that our adopted country's future will in a great measure depend upon what our soils will produce, and no opportunity should be lost of placing the best of such products where they can be seen and compared by visitors or those who have little opportunity of making themselves well acquainted with such. Now dining the jubilee celebration in Auckland there will be a large number of country vi&itors in Auckland, and at the same time other demonstrations in other parts of New Zealand will perhaps draw a large number of visitors from Australia, America and Europe. Those visitors will probably make a tour ol the colony. Many such will make it a point to be in Auckland during jubilee week, therefore what better advertisement could we give our country than by placing in one of our large halls a splendid collection of the products of the soil ? Numbers of thoso visitors will from time to timo ha\e read of our glorious climate, and perhaps some of them will have just left some place in Australia which at that period of the year is parched up with the great heat and droughts chat usually prevail there every summer. Immense advantages to this part of New Zealand would occur if such an exhibition were properly cairiod out. Those visitors would leave our shores and advertise our resources in a much better manner than it would be possible to do otherwise. No time should be lost in taking the preliminary steps, as the exhibition to be thoroughly successfull will require a large amount of working up. Cultivators of all classes will require to have timely notice so that they may make a little preparation. Next week there is to be a meeting of the Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society. This meeting is called to l-eceive a statement of accounts, etc. Perhaps this matter could be discussed by the members, and perhaps a few gentlemen nominated who might act on the Jubilee Committee, This exhibition being a general one should not be hold under the auspices of the Society, but should be made to stand solely by itself.