May 1907.] 



325 



Miscellaneous. 



REPORT ON NUWARA ELIYA AGRI-HORTICULTURAL SHOW. 



April 2nd and 3rd. 



Class L— Gardens.— In company with Mr. Neill G. Campbell and the Kacli- 

 cheri Mndaliyar these were judged on 28th March. The first prize for the "best 

 cropped and cultivated Market Garden in the Nuwara Eliya Board limits, paying 

 assessment of R100 and over " was awarded to Mrs. W. O. Garth of the Darlington 

 Gardens. Most of the grounds were well stocked with vegetables in all stages of 

 growth, and the plot of land recently opened had an excellent crop of Cabbages and 

 Cauliflowers. It would be well worth the while of the owners to use separate tools 

 on this land and take other precautious to prevent the introduction of " Club root," 

 which otherwise would rapidly spread and make a valuable piece of land almost 

 useless for the cultivation of Crucifers. The second prize was awarded to P. D. M. 

 Silva of Bambrakelly, but his garden showed want of cultivation, and, though told 

 about it last year, little seems to have been done to keep in check the " Cabbage fly " 

 by the use of Tobacco water. 



There was one entry for the " best Nursery Flower Garden," but no prize 

 was awarded- Mrs James Hill again carried off the prize for the " best cropped and 

 cultivated Private Vegetable Garden." Great credit is due to her for the excellent 

 condition it was in, and the systematic way in which it was cropped. 



It was encouraging to find that there were seven entries for the "best 

 Private Flower Garden." Lady Bois was awarded first prize, and Mrs. James Hill 

 second. In the former's garden everything was in good order and the flowers were 

 at their best, Phloxes and Verbenas being especially fine. Mrs. Hill's garden was 

 exceedingly pretty, but hardly as good as last year. Mrs. Loos of Rossye Lodge was 

 highly commended for her garden, which contained a profusion of bloom. 



Class 6. — Cut Flowers,— Considering the severe frosts experienced during 

 February, and the heavy rains of the following month, this class all round was 

 excellent, and far superior to what anyone expected : in fact, though the quantity 

 was perhaps less, the quality showed a decided improvement over last year. Special 

 mention should be made of Mr. Neill G. Campbell's fine roses, which carried off five 

 prizes out of the seven offered, and the Silver Cup presented by Mr. T. C Huxley lor 

 the " best grown and most meritorious exhibit of any one variety of one flower." 

 Also Mr. N. C. Rolt's collection of Cut Flowers, which was again awarded the Silver 

 Cup presented by Mr, C. J. Bayley ; it was a fine well-grown lot, and his African 

 Marigolds were quite the finest yet seen in Ceylon. 



The staging this year was much better, and the flowers were seen to more 

 advantage. 



Mr. C. J. Bayley's Violets and Camellias were very fine. Several of the 

 sections in this Class did not fill, which is a pity, as from the gardens judged some 

 very fine exhibits could have been sent. A large exhibit "not for competition" 

 covering over 125 square feet was sent from the Hakgala, Nuwara Eliya, and Queen's 

 Cottage Gardens, and was much admired. 



General.— Taken all round there was much improvement this year except 

 in the " Pot Plants " Classes. One or two additions and alterations should be made 

 in the Catalogue for the next Show, and I think it would be well to add to the regu- 

 lations to enable, amongst other things, the exhibitors to know exactly what to 

 send, and all the Judges to act on the same lines etc. 



J. K. NOCK, 

 Curator, Hakgala Gardens, 



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