Horticultural Society.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue XXXXV, 27 November 1903, Page 2

Horticultural Society.

—■ •*- A SUCCESSFUL SPRING SHOW

The 1903 spring exhibition h«ld under thfefyiispices of the New Plymouth Horticultural Society on Thursday proved an unqualified success. Not only was the total number of entries in excess of that of any previous year, but the quality also indicated a marked advance in many of the classes, so 'that the judges had no light task: in deciding the merits of some of the exhibits. The whole of the main floor and the stage was taken up with tattles and benches for the display of flowers, fruit, vogelpblcs, and koine products, and In the evening particularly locomotion was a matter of some dilliculty owing to the crush. In the dress circle was also an interested crowd of spectators, As the President, Mr J. C. George, saiTT'in a few remarks addressed to the people in the evening, the Society had reason to Congratulate itself on the impetus its work had received this yetar.,-' He pointed out how 'dependent the show was oh the weather foi' success, alid said that wheli tile cold snap was experienced a week ago, after such a favourable spring, things looked somewhat black. However, the elements had relented and shown a geniality since that had in a great measure saved the situation, though of course some of the classes hail suffered still. Continuing his remarks the President referred to the hard times the society had struggled along under during recent years, and hoped the present revival of interest would prove the precursor of a permanently prosperous career.

A casual walk round amongst the various exhibits l'evealed many pleasing features, but it is impossible to do more than touch on the fringe of them in a brief roport. Prominent among the cut flowers was a very fine collection of 24 varieties of roses and another of 12. shown by Mr H. King. In view of the trying weather of last week this display was a most creditajble one. In the classes for carnations the first and second prize-winners were excellent specimens, and taxed the judgxjs' discriminating power considerably. Hr IT. Goldwater was the only exhibitor in the sweet pea class, but bis entry attracted a giood deal of attention. Very gienerous comment was excited by the beauty of a lillium exhibit sent by Mrs Hanken, and also by a very rare flower—the blue gladiolus—first introduced Jjy Mr L. W. Alexander, and now shown for the first time. A new flower, and a very beautiful one, is the African' daisy, shown by Miss Hawken. The saime loidy also won a prize with a collection of HO cut blooms. Some unusually good specimens were those in the classes for Sweet Williams and iris, the latter including SpanKh, German and Japanese blooms. Another noticeable fcaturo consisted of two collections of flowersone yellow and the other purpleshown by Miss Devenish, while an exhibit of native bterries and ferns —collected by Mrs Woyergang, of Nglaire—was worthy of more than passing notice. A fine exhibit of Canterbury Bells, shown by Mrs H. Weston, and a rare imported orchid sent Hi by Mi's N. King, evoked much 'admiration.

Tn ferns there was a fair collection, wftTi a few good specimens. In flowering and foliage begonias the show was one that would do credit to any town, and an exhibit of n white single geranium (shown by Mrs Knight) was characterised by the judges as one of the best they had ever seen grown outside a hot house. Mr W. Nicholls, who is always an exhibitor of fine stock, had a specially noticeablo feature in fancy petunias—single and double. The show of bou<pjets was, on the whole, hardly up to the standard of former yflars. An excellent exhibit was one of the Pohutukawa blossom. A table in the vegetable section was devoted to' a varied assortment sent in by the inmates of the Old People's Home. Ijn the TOgotalblfe clashes the most noticeable were potatoes and lettuces, both of which were very creditable.

Among the fruit entries the most noticeablo were cherries, shown by Mr J. C. Georjgjo, and red currants, by Mrs Bleakley. Mrs Monro had on view a collection of fancy cooking, and Miss Skinner a nice assortment of confectionery ; while cakes were shown in good variety and quality and homemade bread surpassed previous shows.

The stage was occupied by tha decorated tattles, in which class a large number of competitors came forward. In the case of a floral cross competition the merits of the first two were so evenly divided that the judges had to call in the aid of a referee.

The Morshead Nursery Company and Mrs Mitchinsorc t. Caledonian Nursery) were largo exhibitors, accounting for ab'out 600 entries.

Afternoon tea. vfas dispensed by the ladies on the stage during the early part of the show. In the evening tho proceedings were enlivened by selections by the Garrison Hand, and the Black Family of musicians, tho items being much appreciated. Appended is the