CHAPTER XVII 



Chrysanthemums In Australia 



Only within recent years has the Chrysanthemum 

 come ini^ special prominence in Australia, but already 

 the Australian varieties have attained a world wide 

 reputation. It is proper that some mention should be 

 made of them, for it cannot be denied that the Austra- 

 lian varieties have given an impetus to Chrysanthemum 

 culture in America within the last few years, owing to 

 the marked adaptability shown by the Australian varie- 

 ties to respond and do well under the conditions of 

 climate and environment that prevail here. The prob- 

 able explanation for this is the similarity of conditions 

 in regard to great heat and sunshine, inasmuch as for 

 years we have experienced often at considerable cost 

 the utter refusal of some of the very best European 

 varieties to respond to the best of culture in America. 

 The Australians "came and saw and conquered." 

 Already they have won universal recognition,, have been 

 the chief winners at recent exhibitions, and this, prob- 

 ably, is but a foretaste of what will follow. Yet Aus- 

 tralian methods of culture differ markedly from those 

 followed here, except possibly in the extreme South and 

 in the Far West, where good flowers may be grown in 

 the open ground as in Australia. 



Among the several raisers who have taken up the 

 Chrysanthemum in Australia, one of the most success- 

 ful, and one whose varieties are in cultivation in every 

 good collection in our country today, is Mr. Thomas W. 

 Pockett of Malvern, Victoria. Some of the leading 



