Davis, J. G., Florist, Seedsman, and Nurseryman, Richmond Nursery, and 215 Colombo Street, Christchurch. The nurseries, which are situated at Draper's Road, Richmond, contain one of the finest collections of bulbs and carnations in New Zealand Mr. Davis has a collection of daffodils considered to be unequalled in the colony. It contains over 300 varieties, and with exhibits from these he won the Royal Horticultural Bronze Medal at the Dunedin Horticultural Show for three consecutive years, and every other prize competed for in the class. At the Industrial Exhibition held in Christchurch 1900, Mr. Davis received three gold medals for the finest varieties of carnations, and the handsomest collection of cut flowers and orchids. Numerous large glass hothouses are devoted to the cultivation of exotic plants, ferns, palms, and rare orchids. Of these Mr Davis makes a specialty. His collection comprises orchids from all parts of the globe, and contains many hundreds of plants of the rarest varieties, and most dazzling hues. There are two large fern houses filled with nearly every New Zealand and foreign variety. Mr. Davis has a large glass house devoted to the cultivation of early tomatoes, and to the cultivation of chrysanthemums required for winter floral decorations. A large and important branch of the business is connected with bouquets, wreaths, and cut flowers. This department is presided over by Mrs Davis whose exquisite taste was perfected under the tuition of some of the leading florists in Melbourne and Sydney. Her floral decorative work has received numerous prizes at exhibitions throughout New Zealand, and she and Mr. Davis have wisely given their daughter equal opportunities in Australia to become proficient in that refined and refining art. At his shop at 215 Colombo Street. Christchurch, Mr. Davis keeps a large variety of seeds and bulbs in stock; and bouquets, bridal wreaths, and flowers for decorative purposes can be seen and ordered there at any time. Mr. Davis is a native of Victoria. He came to New Zealand in 1877, and was for fifteen years head accountant in the firm of Messrs Strange and Co. He always showed a great partiality for the cultivation of flowers, and in 1879 he succeeded in winning the first prize for his fine collection of pansies. At first he cultivated for the love of gardening, but on severing his connection with Messrs Strange and Co. he determined to apply his knowledge of horticulture to a practical purpose, and in 1894 he started his present nursery. His business has been successful from the first; and Mr. Davis now has an ever-increasing connection throughout New Zealand and Australia. In his earlier years Mr. Davis was well known as an athlete and gymnast in Melbourne and New Zealand. He has long taken a great interest in the local affairs of Richmond. He was a member of the Richmond school committee for several years, and was for four years a churchwarden of Avonside Anglican Church. Mr. Davis is a member of the Horticultural Society, and a most successful prize-taker at the various exhibitions.

Mr. And Mrs J. G. Davis and Family.

Mr. Davis' Exhibit.

Reid, A. and S., Florists and Seedsmen, Native Seed and Fern Collectors, 253 High Street, Christchurch. The firm of A. and S Reid has been established forty years. Its floral branch in Christchurch was originally begun in 1897 by Miss Annie S. Reid, a native of Dunedin, and daughter of Mr. William Reid, florist, of that city. Miss Reid's success is a striking example of what can be accomplished, even in times of keen competition, by a young lady of excellent business abilities, with a thorough knowledge of her profession. Mr. William Reid, her father, an old identity, originally from the Royal Norfolk Nurseries, England, is the oldest seedaman and florist trading in New Zealand, and has won world-wide reputation as a collector of native ferns and shrub-seeds, which he exports to all parts of the world. Miss Reid shows great taste in the mounting of New Zealand ferns; she supplies the Royal Family, and continues to receive very flattering letters of praise from members of the English aristocracy who have visited New Zealand. Her business has increased to such an extent that she has had to considerably enlarge her premises. The firm has fifteen acres under cultivation for flower culture, and therefore, has special facilities for conducting a first-class business. A glance at the lovely roses, carnations, and other choice blooms on view in the window, even in mid-winter, is more suggestive of summer than any other season. In March, 1902, Miss Reid married Mr. Edwin Elsom, son of Mr. Joseph Elsom, of the well-known firm of Royal Florists, of Bath, England, Mr. Elsom came to the colonies about twelve years ago under engagement with one of the leading seed houses in South Australia, and after spending four years in that colony, he arrived in New Zealand. He has been with one of the leading seed houses in Christchurch for the past six years, but has now (1902) taken over the seed department of the establishment at 253 High Street. As Mr. Elsom has been connected for the past twenty years with the principal English and colonial seed houses, he is sure to receive a share of the Canterbury trade. His stocks of new seeds are drawn from all the best growers of England, America, and the Continent of Europe. The whole business is conducted under the old name of A. and S. Reid.

Standish and Preece, photo.
Mr. Elsom.

Standish and Preece, photo.
Mrs Elsom.

Wilson, Arthur Colville, trading as A. C. Wilson and Co., Seed Merchants, 122 Cashel Street, Agent for James Carter and Co., Seed Merchants, London. Cable Code, A.B.C. Telephone 541, P.O. Box 253. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. Private residence, St. Albans. This business was established in 1895 by the proprietor, who was born in Sydenham, and was educated at Christ's College. He was in the service of the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association in Cashel Street for eight years, and had some further experience in the general produce trade in London. Mr. Wilson, naturally, takes a deep interest in all agricultural and pastoral matters. He is the son of Mr. William Wilson, an early Canterbury settler, who was the first mayor of Christchurch. During 1893, Mr. Wilson proceeded to England, where he was for some time in a leading mercantile office until he was given the New Zealand agency for Messrs. Carter and Co., upon which he returned to the Colony, where he landed, per s.s. “Aorangi,” in September, 1895, and at once entered upon the business.

Somerville House Gardens (Charles Carmichael, proprietor), Fendalton, Christchurch. Though still in a comparatively early stage, these gardens are already well known in their own neighbourhood and beyond it. The kitchen garden is noted for its excellent vegetables, and crops of fine fruit. As regards size, quantity, and quality, its gooseberries are such as are not often seen. The apple trees are quite free from blight, and yield such heavy crops that the branches have to be propped up each summer to prevent them breaking down under the weight. In the summer of 1901 a young tree of Peasegood's Nonsuch, that had only been planted three years, carried thirteen apples, several of which weighed over a pound, and a young Alfriston, that had been planted two years, produced fourteen apples, which averaged twelve ounces each. Peaches, plums, and pears are equally as successful as the apples. According to Mr. Carmichael's experience these results are chiefly due to (1) summer pruning, (2) keeping the trees free from insect pests, and (3) growing apples for profit. Weeds receive no quarter in Sommerville House garden, and thus all the value of the plant food from both the soil and atmosphere is secured for the fruit trees and the vegetables. Equal attention is given to the flower garden and the vinery. In the first, there are very fine collections of roses, marcissii, rhododendrons and herbaceous plants, which give a good supply of flowers all the season round. The chrysanthemums are the best in cultivation, and Mr. Carmichael is a most successful grower of this magnificent Oriental flower, his exhibits of which have secured first honours at the Christchurch Timaru, and Dunedin Chrysanthemum Shows. Mr. Carmichael's vinery is thoroughly up to date. It is well built, and in the various details is a model in every way, especially in respect to ventilation, as by moving a small lever one half of each ventilator can be opened an inch or as much or as little as necessary. The heating apparatus, a twelve-hours stove, is a marvel of efficiency with economy, and with very little, attention, a steady temperature is maintained with a very small amount of fuel. The vines give great promise, and are now (1902) showing some good bunches. While the vines were small Mr. Carmichael grew tomatoes under them, and produced the finest in the district. This was proved by the fact, that at the Canterbury Industrial Jubilee Exhibition in 1900 Mr. Carmichael won the silver medal for a dish of tomatoes against all comers, beating the local nurserymen and gardeners.

Somerville House.

Mr. Charles Carmichael. Proprietor of Somerville House Garden, was born in Dundee, Scotland, in 1856, and educated at Dundee High School and Dollar Academy. He was apprenticed to the engineering profession, which he followed until 1892, first in Scotland, and afterwards in New Zealand. Mr. Carmichael arrived in Dunedin in 1880, and several years afterwards he settled at Loburn, in Canterbury, where, in 1892, he bought a farm of 160 acres, which he devoted to grain growing and stock raising. At the same time he acquired a liking for horticulture, to which he gave a great deal of sympathetic attention. In 1899 he gave up the farm, and settled at Somerville House, Fendalton, where he now (1902) devotes most of his time to gardening. Mr. Carmichael has for a number of years, been a vice-president of the Christchurch Chrysanthemum Society, and also a regular exhibitor at the society's annual shows. He is also a member of the Christchurch Beautifying Society. Mr. Carmichael married a daughter of Mr. Robert Duncan, of Loburn, and has one daughter and two sons.

Gimblett, William, Fruit-Grower, Nurseryman, Seedsman, and Florist, Christchurch. Orchards, Nursery, and Fruit Gardens, Heathcote Valley and Woolston; Shop, 129 Lichfield Street. Mr. Gimblett arrived in the Colony from Cornwall in 1866 by the ship “Mermaid,” and learned his trade in New Zealand, purchasing the business—which has been established since 1862—ten years later. The Heathcote property embraces twenty-seven acres, which are laid out in orchard. That at Woolston is thirty-four acres in extent, twelve being in fruit trees and two acres in nursery. These well-established orchards have no fewer than 8000 permanent fruit trees. The nurseries contain between 100,000 and 200,000 young trees. The glass-houses are 4158 square feet in extent, and large quantities of grapes, tomatoes, cucumbers, and potplants are produced yearly. Mr. Gimblett pays £800 to £900 every year in wages, mostly for cultivation. He is a direct importer of seeds from Hurst and Sons, of London.

Robinson, J., Fruiterer, Confectioner, and Seedsman, Colombo Street, Christchurch Mr. Robinson was born in Christchurch, in 1881, and educated at the East Christchurch School. He commenced his present business in 1901, and it has proved a growing and prosperous one, Mr. Robinson is a direct importer from the islands and from Sydney, and is thus able, not only to obtain the best fruits, but also to sell at the lowest prices. Seeds constitute a special part of his business, and of these he keeps varieties of the best quality in season.

Standish and Preece, photo.
Mr. J. Robinson.

Ross And Leighton (William Ross and E. W. Leighton), Fruitgrowers and Orchardists. “Candilli,” St. Martin's, near Christchurch. This property is about five acres and a quarter in extent. Messrs Ross and Leighton successfully carried on business as nurserymen for many years, but, in 1900, having determined to confine their operations to fruitgrowing solely, they disposed of their nursery in Ferry Road to Messrs Grant and Macdonald, re-named their present premises after a village on the Bosphorus, and converted their business into a fruitgrowing concern. They have erected four of the largest glass houses in Christchurch, on brick and concrete foundations, and have them excellently heated with a system of hot water pipes. Two large forcing houses, each 100 feet by 24 feet, are devoted to the cultivation of dessert grapes, some of the bunches of which grow to a length of 18 inches, and weigh from four to nine pounds. The firm has acquired so great a reputation for its grapes that it is unable to supply the demand, and improvements and enlargements are contemplated which will double the present output. Two large tomato houses, one 150 feet long and 30 feet in breadth, with a second of 100 feet by 30 feet, are devoted solely to the growth of this esteemed fruit, for the early spring consumption. Outdoors two acres are planted with numerous varieties which come to maturity later in the season, and are shipped in large quantities to the various New Zealand markets, principally Dunedin and Wellington. A portion of the grounds is devoted to the growth of plums, chiefly of the Japanese varieties. The finest varieties of pears are grown for table consumption, and also numerous cooking sorts. There is a magnificent collection of dessert and cooking apples of every variety. The orchard is extremely clear of all pests and blights, and the trees are pictures of health and vigour. An unlimited water supply, so necessary to the proper growth of fruit, is obtained from two wells of 312 and 237 feet respectively, each supplying about fifty gallons per minute.

Mr. William Ross is a native of Scotland, where he learned his business. He spent several years with Messrs Veitch and Son, of Chelsea, celebrated as nursery owners, and famous as orchid growers, and was sent by that firm to Constantinople to take charge of a collection of those beautiful plants belonging to a Belgian gentleman, who resided in that city. After fulfilling his commission, he was sent by Messrs Veitch and Son to the Philippine Islands to collect orchids for their home collection. Shortly after again returning to England, he turned his thoughts towards the colonies, especially New Zealand, and sailed for Lyttelton in 1880. Some time was spent in Wellington and Napier respectively, but Mr. Ross then returned to Christchurch, where, in conjunction with his partner, Mr. Leighton, he started page 338 the nursery in Ferry Road. Ultimately they sold that property, in order to devote themselves to their present business.

Standish and Preece, photo.
Mr. W. Ross.

Mr. Edward William Leighton was born in England, and was for years employed at Lambton Castle, in the beautiful gardens of Lord Durham. He subsequently came to New Zealand, and after spending several years as a gardener in various places, he entered into partnership with Mr. Ross.

Standish and Preece, photo.
Mr. E. W. Leighton.

Colombo Street, Christchurch.