HORTICULTURE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 23 November 1912, Page 7

HORTICULTURE.

MASTERTON HOSE AN J) SWEET

PEA SHOW.

Entries for the Show dose at 9 I o'clock to-ni<^ht, with the secretary, Mr H. M. Boddiugton, and judging by the amount of bloom t-o lit l seen everywhere there should he greater competition this year than. usual. The Amateur (Mass may he ex per toil to come out strong. They are protected against the competition oi' professional growers, as the class is only open to those who at no time during, the year have employed labour in the garden. This should give amateur growers their chance as prizes are offered in roses for 3, 6, and 12 varieties, to be nam oil if possible. There are also the same numbers in sweet peas, and eight other pactions of general cut flowers . Prizes are also offered in vegetables which should appeal to amateurs. Whilst professionals are not allowed T-o enter m the Amateur class the latter may compete in the open cla«s and no doubt they will do so and in some case will prove , that they e-'m bold their own against those who employ labour. Although the principal feature of the show will be the display of roses and sweet pea-s there are other classes of exhibits. The clat's for pot plants number 17 sections and these, should make a good display. 11l addition to TOSOS and sweet peay there are over twenty sections* for genera] cut flowers and over a dozen for decorative disp'.ay In the fruit class berries are rather backward owing to the weather and no great display of strawberries, goosberries and cherries may be expected although there are sure to be enough entries to create and promote competition. One of the. foremost exhibitors at the Masterton shows in the past has been Mr Alfred Booth, of Ha warden, and he grows some particularly fine roses and local lovers of flowers will be looking forward with the expectation of seeing something new in his collection <it the local show on Wednesday next, fie was an exhibitor at the Lower Hutt show this week and is thus referred to by the Chronicle -.—Considering the very unseasonable weather ihas prevailed of late the exhibition of blooms was considered by tlie judge (Mr I hoy. Waugh) more than satisfactory. Mr A. Booth's exhibit, "Dean Hole," was - awarded being, the champion bloonr ill" the show. This: rose is full-bodied, with outer petals of white faintly tinged with pink., while the inner petals are of the same delicate 'Shades with a corona of deeper pink." ■Messrs Horteu. Ltd., staged a rose named "Veitchenblau," of the climbing variety, with petals as near blue as it is possible to get rose blooms'. Tt will be a treat to Masterton ( sr.rowers to see such rare blooms.