The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 1887. HORTICULTURAL SHOWS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2546, 11 March 1887, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 1887. HORTICULTURAL SHOWS.

The Committee-of'-'the Masterton Horticultural Society maybe honestly congratulated upon having carried through a series of shows with credit to themselves and with benefit to the 'public. Financially, their, several ventures havo been all that could be desired, and from this point of view ihoyarenow in a flourishing condition.'''.Of course there are one' or'two weak points in their periodical exhibitions, notably an experience that the' number of exhibitors are not at.all ; in proportion to the population of the town, a.nd district. : The reason of this is fin a measure explained'byjhe following letter received by usyesterday from a small cultivator m this town, who would, we have reason to believe, be glad to become a member of the Society, and to grow exhibits for the Show, if he felt that sufficient encouragement were held out to men in his position who cultivate cottage gardens with their own labor :

Just after our last flower show you made a few remarks in the Datlt vrith regard to .the ejwoutagement o! cultivating flowed; fa„ that ow future shows may be a greater, suecegi Not haying seen any further riotioe on the subju"'t takes by member's of the Society, I have been tbfl BWto over with a few of my acquaintances, who, sth myself and many other small cultivators, will fe«, only too pleased tofurtber the advancement

of future nicetidgs, provided thero are a few olassos devoted entirely for cottagers only to compete (not employing any labor). This being, done wo should find our fine drill hall well fillod with many good plants. This system works well in England, and I feel sure it will hero with us, where as under ! tho..prosent existing regulations 'cottagers have nbta ghostofohanoeor encouragement, ■ seeing that they have to show against the "upper ten," whoemploy professional labor, &o. Trusting others more enlightened in writing letters/ do,, than what I am will take the matter well is hand, so that future maj be a great suocess. ' '•" E acting .tkiause of small oul« twators, m by- no mem wish to tinder estimate the benefit the Society temti from'the exhibits of profeasional gardeners and from some; set*. tlers whose means enable them to grow rare plants and, fruits under the most favorable conditions. 'lt'id to tbo interest of all engaged in gardening to have in our shows the best specimens which either skill or money can produoo;'' but it would also be extremely interesting to see a section of each I showdevoted exclusively to small "cul- J tivators. We believe that if the Society decide to try the experiment of a cottager's schedule in connection with their show next spring, any appeal they might make for new subscribers for speoial subscriptions or prizes would be liberally responded to. The publio will, we feel sure, be only too pleased to see bo desirable a movement initiated. Let the Society mako the cottagers' schedule a liberal one, and it will become the most popular i feature in the show. We haye,our : i selves been in the habit of contributing towards a special prize list, but would gladly double our ordinary contribution for the coming season if it were applied in this direction.

If the Borough Council needed any argument to convince them of the necessity of completing the gas works —tliat ia, of making the gas tank thoroughly secure—the fact of their having had to take hack allozen or more metres from intending consumers, who refused to discard their kerosiue lamps and turn on the gas, ought to be sufficient. At present not more than half of the business people in the town use gas. Instead of supplying 200,000 feet per month, less than 100,000 feet are being disposed of, and a gas rate in a few months' time is inevitable. When the gas rate ia collected, the ratepayers will take even a livelier interest in the gas works than they do now.