COLONIAL CHRYSANTHEMUMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2671, 24 May 1905, Page 10

COLONIAL CHRYSANTHEMUMS.

In view of the chrysanthemum show to b© held in the Garrison Hall on Empire Day a few notes with regard to a few of the most popular varieties may be of interest. Many of the best varieties have had their origin on our side of the line. Messrs Hrunning and Co., of Melbourne, raised Lady Hopetoun and Lord Hopetoun. The former, a heliotrope pink with the reverse of the petals silvery, is a robust grower, and has the dwarf habit esteemed by chrysanthemum experts; tho latter is a lovely rich crimson, the petals reflocx.ed, with the reverse side golden. Lord Hopetoun. may bo looked upon as a glorified Edwin Molyneux, a vai'iefcy that long held eway, But has now been superseded Mr Thomas Pookett, curaxjr of the Malvern Public Gardens, Melbourne, a noted raiser of ohrysanthennunis, amongst many first-olaes varieties is responsible for the origiu of Miss Nellie Pockett and W. R. Church. Those interested in the different varieties of the autumn queen who were present at the last winter show will remember the magnificent blooms of the lovely Nellie staged by Mr Poole in his champion exhibit. W. R. Church, deep rosy crimson, was bracketed equal with F. S. Vallis, canary yellow, in the vote taken in England four months ago by the Journal of Horticulture. In a vote; taken during th© present month by the Melbourne

Argue, Madame Oarnot heads the list. It is a pure white flower with long, drooping petals. It was raised by M. Calvat, the great Freneft 1 chrysanthemum grower, who also raised F. S. Vallis, regarded as the best of Calvat's introductions. Madame Carnot has fallen somewhat out of favour here, but visitors to the Dunedin show will have an opportunity of seeing good specimens of the two blooms most in favour in England—viz., F. S. Vallie and W. R. Church.