MASTERTON HORTICULTURAL

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10619, 26 April 1912, Page 3

MASTERTON HORTICULTURAL

ANNUAL REPORT. ' Tlr© following is the report to lvo I presented at the annual meeting of •the Masterton Horticultural Society, oa Thursday mcx£: The Committee 'have pleasure in preeo-Hting this, the fourth annual report, with statements of accounts attached', .from Avhieli members will be j able to .sco the re«uJt.s of the Society's J work during year under review. | The experiment of holding a bulb cx- I •WJnitron- jwoved most' satisfactory—rthanks to K.ili<o- fciiulineaj of "Mr Alfivd Booth, wli'o .provided a 'large and beautiful collection of blooms. The exhibition proved tfliat there wore come keen ibulb in. tho Society, and there is every reason to believe many more wi'il take an interest .in the culture for which tli-oro is so nuK-li scope, The Rose and Sweet Pea Show, though niot a financial sucec'iis, provided a (magnificent display of roses. Sweet .peas- unfortunately were j not up 'to ftlic n-eual good standard, j Thanhs to a number of sweet pea en- j tluisias'ts, a JFaudsome challenge silver I bowl has lb con provided for a rum a 1 oolmjpetition- at tJiis show, Mr George Macfarlane, of Greytowiii, heing the first winner. Mrs W. H. Booth, of Middle ißvu,-, holds the Dixon Rcea Bowl ifor the bo ft .rose- in- -the show. I The fourth Autumn. Show, thank® to J the many (Honors townrdte the prize | fund, showed a small profit, .wOiioli, j Iliad itlhie weather conditions been more favourable, would have been considerably in creased. The entries for this show nearly equalled thiose of the first show, all the .classes, with the exception of cut flowers, being wel'i up to | the eta'ndlaird. The cut Howoris, ow-| ling to several days' heavy rain, sm-f-• fered severely. A great feature was the rtablo decoration and decorated mantelpieces, whidh made a most picturesque exhibit in the Town Hall. Thte champion tickets for the best dahlia in the &how were awarded to Mrs 11. T. Wood; best aster to Mr H. J. Byguni; flicst rose, .Mr G. C. "Summered!. As members will not© from \ the statement of accounts, the Society lias'a substantial balance of assets, but lih view of 'the possibility of bad weather, and consequent decrease in entries and attendance, it is essential that the fmemibcr.shiip ehould be considerably inci'easecl, with a view to abiding canvassing for donations. A motion lis to be submitted at the an-•n-ua'l meeting for the purpose of raising the annual subscription from 10s and os to 20-s and 10s, this being the fee w'lioii. the Society wais resuscitated four years ago. Another matter to which the Committee have given considerable attention is the definition- cf those eligible to compete at the Society's .shows. The Committee are of opinion'.that it is in the best i lit crests of the Society that- the "open class'' should' be open, to all, so tlwvt members and the ,public can have the advantage of viewing the results of the nurserymen's labours 'against those who are prepared to compote with them. The uimateur definition and class will still remain. j The tliauks of the Society are due J to the following Sadies and gentile,men for donations to the prize fund : Mesdames B. H. Beetham, P. R. Cook, C. F. Ga.wit!h, D. M. Graham, D. K. Logan, IR'. 0. Smith and C. F. v Yallance ; 'Mesfens J. X. Anderson ' (Napier), H. Beale and Co., W. G. Beard, Haigli H. Beetham, W. 11. j Beetham, Benefield and Sons (Wanganui), D'. Ca-seliberg, J. Caselberg, M. , Caselberg, W. B. Chcnnells, F. Cooper, Ltd. (Wellington), W. li. Cruick- j sihauk, E;>. .Hale, A. Henderson, W. J. Hi'rscliberg, P. L. Hoi lings, T. Hor ton, Ltd. (Hastings.), Da; Archer Bosking, Br W. H. Hosldng; Levin and Co. Ltd., Miss Maeara, F. G. Maw sell, J. B. Moodie, Nimmo and Blai. (Dunedin), Bros and Down; (Auckland)', Piinhey Bros., -las. Pi'y •') or, A. Robinson and Sons, G. V.' 1 Sellar, A- 'Siimnnondis and Co. (Na;>ier), A. J. Stone-Wigg, G. R. Sykc.j, M.P., M. R. Varnham, W.F.C.A , A. P. Whatman, and' Arthur Yaws and Co. (Auckland), and to Mesdames J. Caselhcrg, E. Harpei - , J. B. MeKenzie, (Miss Rockel and Miss Pivb ble (of H. C. Gibbons and Co., Wellington), Messrs J. N. Anderson (Nr. nier), A. .Booth (MiddJo Run, -Otirterton), F. Cooper (Wellington), S. B. Dobbie (Pahiatua), and J. Weight man (Awahnri, Feilding), for a& judges at the different shows, and to W. B. Cihennells and Co. for Ihc free use of their offices as a cornn; i i;-:o meeting roopi. The Committee held twelve meirtinJc during .tlvo year, which were attended as follows:—Mesdames C. A. Cam.-ro:', ' "I, P. R. Coiok 2, D. M. Graham 3 J. B. Keith 3, J. B. Moodie 4, J. Pryor 1, E. 0. Siniith 7, and H. T. Wood 2. Messrs Jas. Pryor (Prc-vid-en.t) 12, G. W. Sellar fN'ice-Presidciii) 8, G. C. Su-mmerell (Vice-Prcsido it) 8, J. C. Alpafs 7, J'as. Candy 3, J. Oaselborg 6, Tlwis. Dixon 4, K. Ha 1 '? 6, W. .1. Hirschberg "2, G. Ri. Sykes, M.P. 2, and M. 11. Vamham 6. In concnlision, the Committee beg to state that they have had the i o ; rt and statement of accounts printed this year, with a view to stiiimilnting increased Tnferest in the Society, an ! trust that, it wall he the means of ensuring a large attendance at the annua! meeting to be held' on Thursday, 2nd May. in Murray's Hall, at 8 pim. JAS. PRYOR, President.