CHRYSANTHEMUMS AND CACTUS PAHLIAS.

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

CHRYSANTHEMUMS AND CACTUS PAHLIAS.

THE TWELVE BEST.

Mr J. Rennie writes from Port Chalmers under date May 17 : —

" Sin, — The Melbourne Argus lias taken a vote of leading growers as to the best varieties of chrysanthemums. Perhaps the editor of the Otago Daily Times would find space for a similar vote. It would, no doubt, be of interest, and would, I think, approximate more nearly to the vote in England than the Victorian one, which I append : —

" Madame Carnot 38 votes, Miss Nellie Pockett 33. Lady Hopetoun 32, Mrs W. Mease 30, Lord Hopetoun 29, W. R. Church 23, S. T. Wright 22, Miss Amy Castles 19, F. S. Vallis 15, Miss Anetta Henley 16, Mr T. Carrington 13, Choltoni U."

The popular vote taken by the Melbourne Argus was as to the 12 best chrysanthemums and 12 beet cactus dahlias, and wo shall be glad to roooivci selections of these- as £ proposed by Mr Rennie and publish tho lists from day to day. The show to be held on Wednesday evening will give an opportunity of comparing somo of the popular fancies and lend additional attraction to a vote such as it is proposed to take. Of the placed chrysanthemums in its competition the Argus says: — "Madame Carnot is a pure white flower, with long drooping petals. It was raised by M. Calvat, the great French ehrysanthamum-grower, who also raised F. S. Vailis, a fine canary yellow, regarded as the best of Calvat's introductions. Mies Nellie Pockett, pearly white, was placed equal with Madame Oarnot in the vote taken in England four months ago by the Journal of Horticulture. Neither variety, however, secured as high a place in the English list as F. S. Vallis (cana-ry yellow) or W. R. Church (deep rosy crimson), whiob were equal at the> head of the list. Lady Hopetoun (heliotrope pink, with the reverse of tho petals silvery) is a robust grower and dwarf in habit, vegarded as a good point by chrysanthemum experts. Mrs W. Mease is a sport from Madame Carnot, pale sulphur yellow in colour; Lord Hopetoun, a rich crimson, the petals reflexed, with the reverse side golden; S. T. Wrigjht, crimson ; Mi&s Amy Castles, doep golden yellow; Miss Anetta Henley, an incurved variety, pink, streaked with white; Mr T. Carrington, rich carmine rose, with incurved petals ; and Oheltoni, a yellow sport from Miss Nellie Poekett."

The leadimr 12 cactus dahlias in the Argus list were : — J. H. Jackeoxi. 61 votes, Mrs Edward Mawley 60, H. F. Robeatson *9, Mrs T. Rooney 48, J W. Wilkinson 46, Flora M. Stredwick 45, Clara G. Stredwiok 27, Phineas 22, CanneU's Crest 19, Uncle i Tom 19, Mrs J. Cronin 19. Mabel Needs 16.

J. H. Jackson is probably tie •finest dark variety yet raised. It is a brilliant crimson maroon, of good size and shape. Mrs Edward Mawley is a delicate primrose yelIcw, of exquisite form, with long fine petals. It is a good bloomer, and excellent either for exhibition or for the garden. H. F. Robinson is a pure yellow; ako a gcod bloomer. Mrs T. Rooney, raised by Mr T. Rooney, the curator of the Ballarat Public Gardens, is another fine-shaped flower, with long petals, colour terra cotta. J. W. Wilkinson, a deep rosy crimeon, is a good exhibition variety, and so is Flora M. Str-edwick, probably the best white variety. Clara G. Stredwick has bright salmon petals, shading to yellow at their base. Canne-lTe Cr&srt is a cherry-red colour, wi-bli long pointed petals, a free grower, good bloomer, and therefore a good garden variety. Uncle Tom is a very dark flower, and Mrs J. Cronin (raised by Mr J. Cronin, Murrumbeena) and Mr 3 Carter Page are fine rich crimsons. .