THE WAIKATO HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3071, 22 March 1892, Page 2

THE WAIKATO HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

SHOW AT CAMBRIDGE. Ouii remarks in Saturdays issue relating to t'.ie above show were necessarily briof, and we restricted them to mentioning the names of the judges and the honorary secretary of the local committee, who all did their utmost to give satisfaction. There is, however, another name that should have been added to the liat, viz,, the chairman of the local committee (Mr Thoa. Wells); for it, is, indeed, more than probable that the show would not have been held at Cambridge this year had he not taken the matter in hand, and it is mainly due to his exertions that it proved such a success; and it was at hie instigation that Mrs and Mies Thornton and Mrs Ellis gave the handsome prizes that brought forth such a large and spirited competition. Mr Wells also devoted considerable time to_ making arrangements for staging the exhibits, and the neat and consecutive manner in which the various classes were arranged is due to his foresight. Taking all these matters into consideration, we think his name of all others should have been mentioned in the primary notice of the show. There were a host uf Learty workers who also deserve special mention, amongst them being Messrs J. Forrest, R. Fisher, H. Buttle (Ohaupo), H. R. Hyatt, S. Saddon, J. Sharp. M. Butler, Pilcher, Walker (Taotaoroa), Dickenson, and doublless othew whom we did not happen to notice. Messrs E. Hewitt and W. B. Souter.also deserve special thanks ; the former for granting the me of his bazaar for the agricultural produce, and the latter for lending about 1800 ffiet of timber, and also supplying labour. The whole of the managements for the show were of the most perfect kind, the fruit, flowers, honey and ladies' exhibits being shown in the Public Hall; the agricultural produce and vegetables were relegated to the bazaar, oppcsite the hall. Although the show of apples was small compared with former years, yet it was of exceptionally good quality, and few appeared to have been attacked by the cndhn moth. The exhibitors must have had a larße number to choose from, and a wearisome task in looking them over, i.e., if they are " codlined" as much as the majority of Wiukato orchards. The peaches were a grand lot, and were the admiration of every one. The first prize in the amateur class fell to Mrs Wm. Rey-

in ine araaieur ciass itm w> iui» nm. n.»r nolds, of Pukekura, who staged five peaches that must have weighed three-quarters of a pound each. They were presented to one of the Auckland judges, (who intended exhibiting them in one of the Queen-street shops-windows of that town) but when the show closed, three of them' had been stolen ; however he took the remaining two, and the first prize one's from the open class, so Waikato peaches will still be represented in Auckland, notwithstanding the otforts of the Cambridge "sneak thieves." The quality of the pear* and tomatoes was exceptionally good, and the display of flowers waa the best that we ever remember having witnessed in Cambridge. We were pleased to find that in the latter classes there were a number of exhibitors who made their debut. This angeM well for Cambridge, and we should not be surprised if an annual flower show (in addition to the Chrysanthemum Show, which is already announced) became onn of the institutions of that town. The show of jamß, jellies, bottled fruits, and dried fruits was a grand one, and that of bread, cakes, scones, etc., was equally so. When the housewives of Waikato can manufacture such commodities as they exhibited laec week, we need no longer wonder at the splendid display they make at soirees and meetings of a like nature. We had thoueht of passing a few remarks upon the ladies' exhibits; but having taken time to think over the matter, and also having heard a few of their remarks regarding the show, we have decided not to do so, as we think it will be best for our peace of mind— and perhaps body. The display of butter was not a large one, and the quality of it, as a whole, was not AI; but who can make butter during such weather as we hate lately been experiencing. Cheese was also a small exhibit. The show ot honey was magnificent and the quality uniformly eood. The judges had a hard task to decide which was the best in the classes for section and extracted honey ; but in the " beat collection " Mr Forrest was an easy winner. He takos an immense amount of trouble in decorating his honey, and also shows a glass hive with bees at work in it. Hβ exhibited two splendid blocks nf honey, each weighing 801bs, and he tells iia that on March Ist. that honey was all in the hives. The vegetables were very good considering the late dry weather, and the farm produce was good, but the number of entries—with the exception of field potatoes—was very small. Why are the farmers so dilatory 1 or are they bashful ? Fancy a prize of half a ton of artificial manure only produced two entries, and a guinea for half a bushel of dun oats went begging, and was not competed tor. The potatoes were much better than we expected to have seen, both in regard to size and quality, and the competi-

tion was a keen one. There were, of course, many exhibits that were not for ciimpetition, amongst them being several mammoth sunflowers grown by Messrs A. Wallace and J. Chambers. Giant mangels were shown by Messrs G. J. Naal and T. B Hill (nf Raglan), the respective weights being 4Mbs and 441bs. The former was " Webbs' Yellow Globe," and the latter wae a long red one raised from Yates' seed. Mr M, Stubbing sent five " Takapuna Russet " apples that averaged 13J inches in circumference, and were all sound and good. They commanded considerable attention. Mr Peppercorn had a dish of very nice seedlings raised from a pippin which he brought from England. They we« of good quality, nice appearance, and look like good keepers. Mr E. Hewitt exhibited aome gigantic late peaches. Judging by the sample shown, these peaches will not be ripe for a week or two. Messrs Souter and Co. exhibited a quantity of Sutton s grass and clover seeds, also a cnse of dried grasses. They were got up in a stylo that is new to this district, the seeds being put up in bottles specially prepared to show them to the best advantage, and the grasses all having the botanical names attached, as well as the more familiar English ones. Thoy proved of great interest to farmers, and were the cause of numerous orders being given. Miss Hooper, of Cambridge West, Bent two samples of canary and carraway seed, the latter being as fine a sample as anyone could wish for. She had raised them both at Cambridge West, and on the sample* kindly gave instructions for their cultivation. Why impart these articles when we can grow them in our gardens ? Several typographical errors appeared in the prize list in Saturday's issue, which perhaps it would be well to rectify, viz. :— Coleus. best 3, should be Mrs H. Fergusson instead of Mr; plums, cooking, 3 varieties, Mr J. Sharp, was omitted ; carrots, 6, J. Peppercorn 1, instead of Pepperson; Stourbridge Glory potatoes, J. Peppercorn 4th, omitted; best 6 tarts, Mrs F. J. Gane 1, instead of Miss; half-pound pat of butter, Miss E. M. Forrest 3, instead of