THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 1912. THE LOVE OF FLOWERS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10662, 18 June 1912, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 1912. THE LOVE OF FLOWERS.

Perhaps -there is no ooou'pation! which brings greater pleasure to the student of nature and the man with a "hobby" than the cultivation of flowers. There is 'something fascinating about it, something whic-h stimulates the noble passions n'nd whets the appetite foi' moire. The Masterton Horticultural- Society,, in: a humble though effective way, 5k endeavouring to create an interest in floricultuiv. atad it is' pleading to mote that its exhibitions are arousing 'a degree of enthusiasm. An inltcrestinlg article appeared in a recent issaie of the •"Strand,"" giviing the epiW.oiis iof specialists on "The FiiVe&t Flower. I Ever Grew," and ai few extracts may not he out of plate. Mr GhavUv. who grows carin'ation-s, ibest esteems. a variety of a beautiful salmon pink, with ibHrfoms three indies across, which had the honour of being named by her Majesty, Miary." The secretary oif the National Sweet Pea Society, Mr Charles Curtis, when he first beheld the finest yellows yet arrived -at, wais struck fciib with &wpri<se and admiration. (),n recovering, he named the finestsweet pea, iln the world after the "best woman i*i the world"—and f liey duly bear the toi:.me of the grower's wife, "C'lan*a- Curtis." A really red iprta'sy appeared i'n time to coldbrate the centenary of 'the first improvements in this flower, the ii(.n olt\ bi,img obtained from esperimcnlts with "thoiiisamd.? 1 aliwl •thoueand.s of seedlings." With the story ,::f hollyhocks, a note of tragedy « touched. It is one olf the oldest garden flowers, hut, at its best it is subjnet to 'a mysterious disease. Hundreds' of •plants, iav tSheir perfection, or whsii buiWfcing into'bloom, may wither suddenly and die in a few hours. Lov-e----ly varieties prepared for show hare don'e this on' the very eve of their success, and ini one case such a happening Jed the disappointed grower •to 't'ako his own <sad life. Chrvsan-

thenvuins are far more to 1)6 depended upon. "My finost. drrysanthenwiiJii," grow.ll iby M'r T. 'Steveitiisoiv, 's the "Lady TW'-hot," deep sulphur in colour, nhbub nine in-ehos across, and eleven (indies deep; while Mr W. Wells had a favour'to i»n marble white, the flower ;> Itoot 'in depth, and 'thirty-one' i.n<-lic-s .round! One blossom wv.(i to enduniiHg t'hat it took fiir&t-<tes award® afc five shows, travelling from. London' to Liverpool and Leeds, to JMfast, auid (back again to Lor.dcn. i.ri> -one crowded and glorious •fortucjiiit. As for orchids, their host friends scorn to .speak of thc-in rather in commercial terms it-lrasn 'in,terms of affection. Mr Armstrong recalls that a fifty-piuinda- Ibull'o so prospered thajb it !br,ought liiru over three thousand pou/aicls in' live years.