NEW MANUKA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 February 1941, Page 9

NEW MANUKA

DOUBLE SNOW-WHITE VARIETY. PLANTS IN CHRISTCHURCH PARK. New Zealand’s commonest plant, the manuka, is classified and described in an interesting article by D. W. McCaskill in the latest issue of the “City Beautiful." The writer mentions particularly the latest discovery, a doubleflowered snow-white manuka, of which five plants have been successfully struck in the gardens at Victoria Park. Cashmere Hills. This variety was discovered about six years ago by Mr Thomas Gillespie, of Hawea. He sent some cuttings to Dr. W. M. Southerland. a native plant enthusiast at Hawea. who sent them on to Mr M. J. Barnett in Christchurch, “Mr Barnett," says the article, "was successful in raising a number of fine plants which were planted at Victoria Park. Early in December they made a wonderful show, each plant four or five feet high and covered with masses of snowwhite rosettes, perfectly formed and well placed along the slender steins. When more widely known, this new form will have a host of admirers. “Manuka is remarkable for the variability to be found among plants growing together in any particular station, in the form, size and colour of the leaves ana tne size and colour of the flowers. A variety of manuka with red flowers was not uncommon in the far north 50 years ago. Pink-flowered forms of several shades grow there in quantity now. and more or less commonly throughout the country. “But the best known of all the coloured forms is the crimson manuka, or var. Nicholls. The late Mr Robert Nairn once gave me the facts regarding its discovery. In the summer of 1905 Mr W. Nicholls, of Belfast, visited Nairn’s nursery in Christchurch, wearing a buttonhole of the crimson manuka. The firm at once recognised its value and asked for information as to the whereabouts of the plant. This, however, was a secret, and all the information tendered was that the original plant was growing in the manuka scrub between Chaney’s Corner and the sea. Mr Nicholls agreed to supply cuttings, but these were too hard and proved useless for striking. Luckily one branch still had some seeds left on it. These wore sown and produced 110 plants. These, with the exception of seven, showed in their growth similar characters to the common manuka, and later, when in bloom. were mostly white. The exceptions had dark reddish foliage and a different habit. The flowers were crimson, and from the best plant large numbers of cuttings were struck.

“During May, 1912, a great flower show was held in London. The 'Gardener’s Chronicle’ gave a cup for the best new plant shown. It was awarded to the Rev. Mr Boscowen. of Cornwall, for a plant of this crimson manuka. A spectator al that show was our present Superintendent of Reserves. Mr Barnett.

“Another coloured form that ha* been long in cultivation is the pink manuka, var. Chapman. It was discovered by the late Judge Chapman on Signal Hill. Dunedin, in 1885. The original plant may be seen in the garden of Mrs Orr Campbell Leith Street. Dunedin, where the first layer taken oiT by Judge Chapman is also growing. “Within recent years several other coloured single forms have been put on the market. Among them are var. Sanders, a winter-flowering form with large pink flowers; var. Walker, which bears flowers in shades of white l<> deep pink on the same bush; var Kcatley, a very large-'lowered pink form, i individual flowers sometimes reaching ' the size of a florin, and var pygmeum, a very dwarf form with, reddish-col-oured foliage and crimson flowers. “Of the double forms we have one known as var. roseum Horn plena, which produces rose-coloured flowers fairly freely. Double white forms occur quite freely in nature, the double flowers usually being confined to a small twig or branch The first one readily available was vat Leonard Wilson, discovered at Port Levy. A large plant grown from the original tree does well in Mr Orton Bradley s garden at Chatteris Bay. A much whiter form was discovered in South Otago as a result of the wreck of the s.s. Manuka at Waipapa Point. This was placed on the market by Mr MacDougall. of Dunedin, under the name, var. Sir George Fenwick. It is giuA , ing well in several Christchurch gai - , dens. |