The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 1888. The Masterton Horticultural and Industrial Society.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2849, 16 March 1888, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 1888. The Masterton Horticultural and Industrial Society.

The President of the Masterton Horticultural and Industrial Society pointed out at the late annual meeting . that the Society needed more outside support and less criticism. In the face of this declaration, it would seem almost ungracious to refer to the present condition of the Society, but it is perhaps worth while to point out on an occasion of this kind what the Society may in time become, to indicate the status to which it might be possible to raise it. It is satisfactory to know that during the past year the Society has not gone back, but, contrasting Shows ten or twelve vears ago with the present exhibits, it will be found that the development'has been somewhat sluggish. As, a matter of fact, we have seen better exhibits in Masterton a dozen years ago tlku at the present time. : The Shows now j I are, perhaps,-somewhat more pretentious, thanks to the industrial classes wliichheye bsen inaugiiratedin connection with them : of late years, but as far as.fruits, flowers, and vegetables m concerned, the' competition was keener,- and the .exhibits, in many instances, finer, in the gnnd old days. The position which we hope to seethe Masterton Show some day take is that of being recognised as a common centre, at which gardeners from Woo'dville, iu the north, to Wellington in the south might compete. Were a sufficiently attractive prize schedule placed before the public, exhibitors and visitors from all points in the line of railway would assist to to make the show a success., .Our Society is fortunate in possessing permanent quarters in a commodious building, and is in a better position to get up a big show than perhaps any locality iii the Provincial district. It is not enough for one Masterton florist to compete witn another, the result usually of such a rivalry being a foregone conclusion. What is needed is Wellington florists exhibiting against Masterton florists, and putting them on their metal We would like, too, to see Greytowh, Carterton, and Featherston fruits and vegetables side by side with Masterton products. Then if Tenui and the Bush districts contributed their quota, a grand show would be congregated, which would bring in visitors by the hundred. There is really no reason why a Masterton Horticultural Show should not become the biggest exhibition in the North' Island. Of course, the thing is now running in somewhat narrow grooves, with a particularly paltry list of subscribers, but it is quite possible to lift the Society to a' better level. Perhaps the first difficulty to be met is in obtaining a strong list of new subscribers. If the sym'r pathies of residents generally are once enlisted oti behalf of the Society all that we have suggested would follow almost as a. matter of course,