GARDENING CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 20193, 5 June 1929, Page 7

GARDENING CLUB

CHRYSANTHEMUMS A meeting of the .Dunedin Gardening Club was Jield last night. The president (Mr H. I-Jollingworth) occupied the chair. An -address on 'Chrysanthemums and Their .Propagation,’ by Mr E. A. Hamel, was the principal business of the evening. Mr Hamel dealt mainly with the correct methods of obtaining stock for nest season, and demonstrated the best moans of_ obtaining cuttings. Ho stressed tbe importance of good drainage, and the necessity of using clean pots. The best turf must be used, but it was- a mistake to employ .moss, as it retained too much moisture. Sand was also a necessity, but it was important not to use beach sand, as it _ also retained moisture. The cutting should be placed not in the middle of the pot, hut at the side, where, it would be found, the young plant would root twice as quickly. July and August•were the proper mouths for planting the cuttings, and if they did not attempt to tlirow buds in October, they should be made to break. Ho was often asked how often a plant should be watered, and his advice was never to let it w-ant water. If the pot when dapped gave a ringing sound, it was too dry, and when it gave a dull sound, it was too’.wet. Dealing with peculiarities of the chrysanthemum, Mr Hamel stated that from seed taken from a plant of particularly good 1 strain, he had obtained six flowers of different colours, and not even resernbling one another m form. He stated that it was advisable to use • wiri.i water when watering cuttings, as cob 1 water gave the young plants a sudden chill. ~ , Among the flowers which were on exhibition, were some exceptionally fine chrysanthemums grow by Messrs : Doodeward and Sons, the collection ; including an excellent specimen of i “ Majestic.’’ Other exhibits were ’ chrysanthemums grown at Oaraaru by ' Mrs Sprott, a Kaffir lily grown by Mrs IHn- ’cs, chrysanthemums grown by J. and a ■ d"i-o:a-ii;r> bowl of. the game flowers grown by Miss M'lntyro.