TARIKI HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 252, 14 March 1913, Page 8

TARIKI HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

TKNTiI AXNTAL SHOW.

Tariki has been particularly unfortu-li Date in the matter of weather for its': annual show, having only had one tine! day during the past live years. ft : speaks volumes for the enthusiasm displayed by the oflicials that the Tariki show is able to maintain such a prominent place among horticultural shows. I'sterday■'» display was a line one,, and j showed a decided improvement 011 previous years. The entries were not quite so numerous, perhaps, but the quality w.-is excellent. Competitors were present from all the surrounding districts, as j well as locally. It is a pity, however, | that the children of the local school do ' not compete more freely, in striking contract to Norfolk Road. which annexed 1 numerous prizes, the cut blooms and |)iit plants excelled both in quantity and,] in many cases, in quality, too.' The I former, considering the recent rains, were remarkably line. A lovely collee-, tion of cactus dahlias, 30 varieties, was shown for exhibition only by Air. F. Davis, of Stratford, and was much admired. A collection of cut blooms shown j by Mrs. Wheeler was exceedingly well staged. Sweet peas wore good, considering the lateness of the season. The principal prize-winners in these sections were Afesdames Therklesen, F. Arden (Xgaere), 0. T. James (Stratford). J. Wheeler, D. -Tones, and Air. J. Therklesen. The decorative section was fine, the juvenile tables being works of art. The scheme of the winning table was worked out in nasturtiums. A table decorated with larkspurs, by a local girl, looked very dainty, and is' deserving of special mention. The committee intend to provide specimen glasses for this competition next year, which will be a decided improvement on the tin tubes at present driven into the tables. - The fancy department showed a large increase. and there was some fine work, in which cushions predominated. The ladies were much interested here, as they gather new ideas from inspection. A feature was the work" of a local boy, who came second for the points prize, beating a number of ladv competitors. Mrs. Sutherland, Master 0. .Tones, Mesdames Spray. Prentiss and Miss Leech were among the winners. Fruit and photography produced very little competition, Mrs. Rutledge winning in the former. Entries were not so prolific in the cookery section, but. the exhibits looked appetising. Airs. .Tames, of Stratford, was the most successful. Mesdames Therklcson. V. Britaain, Spray anl Heatlev also doing very well. M was in the'farm produce and vegetables that the greatest | improvement was shown. The judge, Air. Wheeler, remarked that he had been

attending shows from Wanganui up, but had never seeen a more even lot. There was not a bad vegetable shown. Mangolds, turnips and carrots were particularly fine. Competition was keen, growers from Stratford, Bell Block, etc.. exhibiting, and Tariki should feel proud that its own district should win the points prize in farm produce. Norfolk School gaining this distinction, Mr, Boyles (Stratford) being second. In vegetables Mr. Boyles annexed most prizes. Messrs. Bongstafl' and Jakes were also very successful. The Roinney Marsh

turnip, a new one to the district, which won first prize, was very favorably commented on. for sweetness, etc. Mr. Trimble (patron), Mr. Therkleson (president) and the officials all worked hard, the staging being got through expeditiously and effectively, and the prize tickets being quickly in position. Mr. ,Rumball, the secretary, though new to the position, has evidently caught a firm hold of the work. The various judges, about whose decisions there was very little adverse comment, were as follows: Cut blooms and fruit, Messrs. 11. Trimble and Y. C. Davies; pot plants, Messrs. Morison and Ilicks; fancy work, Miss Cottier; preserves, Mrs. J. Sutherland; cookery, Mr. <l. Young; farm produce and vegetables, Messrs. Wheeler and F. Arden. The photographic exhibits will be sent away to be judged. , The nurserymen's exhibits were very attractive. Messrs. Duncan and Davies, of Westown. had a fine display of cut blooms, including roseS of thirty sorts, iris, /hydrangea, coral tree, heaths and delphiniums. Among the latter wera some new double hybrids. These were a feature of the show, as it was the first time that thev were seen in Taranaki.

They also had a nice selection of pot plants. Mr. A. T. Hicks, of Tikorangi Nursery, specialised in foliage begonias, of which he has the finest collection in New Zealand. Mr. R. Mclv. Morison. of the Stratford nurseries, had a beautiful display of pot plants, including begonias (various), palms, asparagus, maiden-hair ferns, eschalonia and flowering amaryllis. There was a good attendance during the afternoon and evening, included nmonyst the visitors being Mr. J. B. lline,' M.P. The following are the winners and runners ii]> for the points prize's in the various sections:—Pot, plants, Mr. J. Therkleson 4!) points, Mrs. Therklesen, sen., '23; Cut blooms. Mrs. Frank Arden 54, Mrs. J. Wheeler 2S: fruit, Mrs. Rutledge 1: farm produce, Norfolk Road School Mr. (i, I[. I'.ovlcs 23; vegetables, Mr. fi. Tl. Movies 01). Mr. P>. S. LongstalY 54; preserves. Mrs. -T. Thcrkleson IS, Mrs. V. Brit tain 15; cookery, etc., Mrs. G. T. James 52. Mrs. V. Brit-tain and Mrs. Spray 20 points each; fancy work, Mrs. J. Sutherland 33. Master G. -Tones 20; juvenile section, Ivv Therklesen 13, Hilda Ileal S.

A detailed prize list will appear in to-morrow's issue.