676 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
June 24, 1893. 
THE CHRYSANTHEMUM IN NEW 
SOUTH WALES. 
Last year I sent you a brief record of our doings in 
regard to this flower, and probably you will find 
room for a similar notice with respect to the current 
" mum ” season in this far-off land. I must tell you, 
in the first place, that we have added just one more 
society to the rather lengthy roll of associations 
devoted to the " mum.” We have made a fair com¬ 
mencement, have a few earnest members of the right 
sort, have held several interesting exhibitions, and 
are now just preparing to enter our shell prior to 
commencing hostilites for another year. Downright 
earnest work in connection with the Chrysan themum 
does not commence until the planting season is upon 
us, in October next, so you will see our efforts are 
not so continuous as in the old country, six months 
sufficing to produce really excellent exhibition 
flowers. 
Affairs in connection with the Horticultural 
Society of N.S.W. are still in a state of uncertainty, 
and as a result the usual Chrysanthemum exhibition 
was not held. The Australian Chrysanthemum 
Society, a copy of the rules of which I enclose, did 
propose stepping into the breach, in fact the 
schedule was prepared and the hall taken in which 
we purposed holding the show, but a few days prior 
to the dates fixed so many financial institutions were 
engaged putting up their shutters for a time " pend¬ 
ing reconstruction,” that the committee thought it 
wise not to proceed further with the undertaking. 
By abandoning the proposed big effort and proceed¬ 
ing on more modest lines, a very good display was 
made, at a reduction in cost throughout. At this 
some really grand blooms were shown, Mr. R, 
Forsyth, as usual, leading the way, but he was run 
decidedly close by your old correspondent “ G.H.K.” 
Some fine blooms were also staged by one of our 
most enthusiastic amateurs, Mr. Alf. Lee (who is at 
present in England), grand blooms of Louis Boehmer 
and President Harrison being in the lattergentleman’s 
collection. To the Western Suburbs Horticultural 
Society, however, belongs the honour of having 
brought together the finest display this season of the 
Chrysanthemum. At their show, held in the School 
of Arts, Ashfield, April 20th and 21st, a really 
excellent display was seen, some grand flowers being 
shown by Mr. Kerslake (“ G. H. K.”), gardener to 
Von der Heyde. In fact Mr. Kerslake had it nearly 
all his own way, scoring in the Searle Challenge Cup 
for twelve Japs, distinct ; in the twelve incurved 
distinct, champion Jap,, and champion incurved, 
besides running off with first in the plant classes. 
On the whole this excellent grower of the‘‘mum” 
put up, and deservedly, a very fine record, not only 
in well-known established varieties, but'also treating 
the visitors to a peep at some very fine seedlings 
recently raised by him, many of which will yet 
make a name for themselves, I feel convinced. 
Viviand Morel was the premier Jap. in the exhibi¬ 
tion. A really fine plant of Louis Boehmer carrying 
many flowers was staged by an amateur, Mr. J. 
Warrington, and worthily obtained honours. With 
a basket of bronze Chrysanthemums, Mr. C. Bennett 
obtained premier honours in the “ mum ” arranged 
class. 
The country societies appear to be getting fully 
alive to the importance of the Chrysanthemum as a 
show flower, and have had some very creditable 
fixtures. Not only are they alive to the importance 
of the flower, but many of them are sparing no 
expense in order to obtain a thoroughly unbiased 
opinion as to the relative merits of the competing 
stands. Several experienced growers whom I know 
have made lengthy journeys into the country in 
order to sit in the capacity of judges at these inland 
exhibitions. I myself found time to accept two 
invitations of this kind, going on April 28th to 
Mudgee, a town of some 3,000 inhabitants, distant 
about 135 miles west of Sydney. Here, although 
the flowers were not so large as we see them in the 
metropolitan districts, I found them marvellously 
well coloured. Old Grandiflorum was the premier 
Jap. in the show. On several stands were some 
really grand blooms of Mrs. Alpheus Hardy, and one, 
the finest flower, being shown by a lady, Mrs. Harvey 
Nickoll, a very successful prize-taker throughout the 
show. 
A coach builder, Mr. Deane, had amongst a 
collection of plants a specimen of Mrs. Alpheus 
Hardy, carrying upwards of seventy blooms. Some 
really beautiful Roses were on view, the lovely 
Marie Van Houtte and Marechal Niel had to decide in 
the class for the premier bloom,so perfectly developed 
and spotless were they. The fruit classes were limited, 
but the exhibits were excellent in quality. While stroll¬ 
ing round the town I ran against two fine specimens of 
Aloysia citriodora, with stems 24 in. in circumference. 
They were planted in front of a cottage residence 
and well they looked, being perfect in vigour and 
health. 
On May 3rd, I had an appointment in a similar 
capacity at Hay, a town with a population a little in 
excess of Mudgee, viz, about 3,500. It is situated on the 
145th degree of longitude, on the banks of the Mur- 
rumbidgee River, and exactly 460 miles from Sydney. 
It is a pretty little town, possessing a splendid 
winter climate—in fact, in this respect it would be 
hard to beat. Here Fortune’s old yellow Grandi¬ 
florum again came to the front, shown by a Mr. 
Gathric. The colour of the Chrysanthemums were 
very good, though size was lacking. Although so far 
inland, the Hay growers possessed a fair sprinkling of 
modern varieties. Wm. Tricker, The Kingston, 
Sunset, Louis Boehmer (specimen plant), Mrs. 
Alpheus Hardy, and others being found on various 
stands. The one thing wanting at Hay appears to be 
rain, of which the inhabitants get but a very meagre 
supply—about 6 inches a year I am told is the 
average. The soil is good enough to grow every 
thing if irrigated. A cluster of Quinces, taken from 
a branch on a tree in a cottage garden here, five in 
all, weighed exactly 8 lbs. 
In the same garden were found some enormous 
Figs, and the growth on the Peaches and Citrus 
family appeared to me really wonderful. In one 
corner I noticed a good collection of Coleus, and a 
fine plant of Amorphophalluscampanulatus, perhaps 
a curious mixture of vegetable life, but there all the 
same. The Hay growers deserve every credit for the 
effort made. They appear determined, notwith¬ 
standing their difficulties to excel. A journey of 920 
miles by rail is not an every day occurance, even on 
behalf of this noble flower. The Hay “mum” 
growers unhesitatingly encountered without flinching 
this rather costly experiment—the railway fare alone 
is five pounds—and appeared well satisfied withal. 
They were determined that local prejudices should 
not influence the verdict in any case. They did not, 
and every exhibitor appeared content, while I en¬ 
joyed my run into the Riverina district very much 
indeed.— J. H. H., “ Cranbrook," N.S.IV., 13th 
May, 1893. 
-- 
PTERIS CRETICA MAYI. 
There are several forms of Pteris cretica in gardens 
both green, crested, and variegated. P. c. albo- 
lineata has long been in cultivation, and is now well 
known in gardens. It has a silvery band along the 
centre of each pinna. There are two forms in gardens 
with a silvery band of this nature, and in addition 
they are more or less decidedly crested or tasselled 
at the tip of each pinna. P. c. Mayi is the best of 
the two, and the other one is not now making much 
headway in gardens. The fronds have a close,compact 
and gracefully drooping habit, and when well grown 
are very elegant. The silvery band along the centre 
is very broad and clearly defined, more particularly 
when the plant has been grown in a moist, tolerably 
warm atmosphere. Under very cool conditions the 
variegation is to a great extent lost. The habit of 
the plant and the character of the variegation may 
be seen by reference to the illustration, for which we 
are indebted to Mr. H. B. May, of Dyson’s Lane 
Nurseries, Upper Edmonton, who raised the plant 
from spores some years ago. It is very handsome 
and effective when of fair size. 
-- 
PTERIS CRETICA NOBILIS. 
Of the green, crested forms of P. cretica, that under 
notice is undoubtedly^the most distinct, effective and 
useful for decorative purposes. The fronds are 
erect, branched, and the branches again multifid, 
giving the whole plant a most singular effect when 
we bear in mind the drooping habit of the typical 
P. cretica. A plant can be produced in a 48-size 
pot that is a decidedly handsome object, and for 
decorative purposes is invaluable. It was raised 
from spores by Mr. H. B. May, Upper Edmonton, 
to whom we are indebted for the present oppor¬ 
tunity of illustrating it; and if evidence were needed 
of the favour with which it has been received by the 
public it is only necessary to refer to its widespread 
culture both in this country and on the Continent. It 
had no long made its appearance before the public 
Pteris cretica Mayi, 
