HORTICULTURAL SHOW
576
Apparently the First Annual Horticultural Show was held in 1873, for I find the Committee of Management of the Public Gardens proposing to hold the Second Annual Show in the February of the following year. It is advertised that a small quantity of vegetable seeds for Chinese Gardeners will be obtainable in due time from the Superintendent of Government Gardens.
I thank "Dramaticus" for his contributions. As regards the first Horticultural Show, it is interesting to note that it led subsequently to the formation of the Hongkong Horticultural Society. The first society of this nature was founded in February 1873, by the Government Garden Committee referred to in the above extract. Three years later the Government withdrew from the control of the society, which continued under unofficial management for some years longer, but then appears to have become moribund. It was a good many years afterwards that the Horticultural Society was revived, and it continues to flourish until to-day.
The Hongkong Horticultural Society will be holding its annual meeting this evening, and it is interesting to note that this is rated as its twenty-seventh in unbroken succession, as the Society as at present constituted only goes back to 1906. However, there was a Horticultural Society formed in the Colony long before that, but it became moribund, as was the case with several other local organisations, and only the enthusiasm of certain residents at the opening of the present century led to the reconstitution and revival of this association of horticulturists.
On looking back to the earlier records, we find that the first duly constituted Horticultural Society was formed in Hongkong on February 13, 1873, and was for some years a strongly represented and flourishing body of gardening enthusiasts. The original society was established by a so-called Garden Committee, which was of a semi-official nature, having its headquarters at the Public Gardens, where for some years it held its annual flower and vegetable show.
November 23, 1876, the Government withdrew its control of the Horticultural Society, which was then placed entirely under unofficial management, and continued for some years longer. It appears that enthusiasm waned, for by the end of the past century it had passed out of existence for a definite number of years. For the moment, no record can be found of the actual date of its demise: and unfortunately none of the Society's official records seem to have been preserved. The only records possessed by the existing Horticultural Society go back to its year of resuscitation, 1906.
The original body did its bit in encouraging the growth of European vegetables by Chinese market gardeners, and in an advertisement appearing in the summer of 1873 in the local press is an intimation that a small quantity of vegetable seeds for Chinese Gardeners would shortly be available, and could be obtained from "the Superintendent of the Government Gardens."
It also encouraged poultry breeding, and for a time held combined poultry and flower shows. In the Hongkong Telegraph of February 14, 1882, is a report of the tenth annual flower show of the "Hongkong Horticultural Exhibition Society", held in the Public Gardens, when "a new and attractive feature was noted, namely, the addition of a poultry show. This consisted of some 50 pens of birds.
By the kindness of the committee of the H.K. Horticultural Society I have been able to peruse the minutes going back to its re-establishment. We find the first committee meeting held on March 28, 1906, those present being Sir Francis Piggott (then
Page 255
Page 256
HORTICULTURAL SHOW
576
Apparently the First Annual Horticultural Show was held in 1873, for I find the Committee of Management of the Public Gardens proposing to hold the Second Annual Show in the February of the following year. It is advertised that a small quantity of vegetable seeds for Chinese Gardeners will be obtain- able in due time from the Superintendent of Government Gardens.
I thank "Dramaticus" for his contributions. As regards Le first Horticultural Show, it is interesting to note that
is led subsequently to the formation of the Hongkong Horticultural ..ciety. The first society of this nature was founded in February 1673, by the Government Garden Committee referred to in the above extract. Three years later the Government withdrew from the control of the society, which continued under unofficial manage- ment for some years longer, but then appears to have become moribund. It was a good many years afterwards that the Horticultural Society was revived, and it continues to flourish until to-day.
The Hongkong Horticultural Society will be holding its annual meeting this evening, and it is interesting to note that this is rated as its twentyseventh in unbroken usccession, as the Society as at present constituted only goes back to 1906. However, there was a Horticultural Society formed in the Colony long before that, but it became moribund, as was the case with several other local organisations, and only the enthusiasm of certain residents at the opening of the present century led to the reconstitution and revival of this association of horticulturists.
On looking back to the earlier records, we find that the first dly constituted Horticultural Society was formed in Hongkong on
bruary 13, 1873, and was for some years a strongly represented and ourishing body of gardening enthusiasts. The original society was cablished by a so-called Garden Committee, which was of a semi- “ ficial nature, having its headquarters at the Public Gardens, ere for some years it held its annual flower and vegetable show.
November 23, 1876, the Government withdrew its control of the Horticultural Society, which was then placed ́entirely under unofficial management, and continued for some years longer. It appears that enthusiasm waned, for by the end of the past century it had passed out of existence for a definite number of years. For the moment, no record can be found of the actual date of its demise: and un- fortunately none of the Society's official records seem to have been
preserved. The only records possessed by the existing Horticultural Society go back to its year of resuscitation, 1906.
The original body did its bit in encouraging the growth of European vegetables by Chinese market gardeners, and in an advertisement appearing in the summer of 1873 in the local press is an intimation that a small quantity of vegetable seeds for Chinese Gardeners would shortly be available, and could be obtained from. "the Superintendent of the Government Gardens."
It also encouraged poultry breeding, and for a time held com- ned poultry and flower shows. In the Hongkong Telegraph of bruary 14, 1882, is a report of the tenth annual flower show of the nongkong Horticultural Exhibition Society", held in the Public Gardens, when "a new and attractive feature was noted, namely, the addition of a poultry show. This consisted of some 50 pens of
birds.
By the kindness of the committee of the H.K. Horticultural Society I have been able to peruse the minutes going back to its re-establishment. We find the first committee meeting held on March 28, 1906, those present being Sir Francis Piggott (then
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