CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOW BEGINS AT PAU

Ludhiana, December 7, 2017: The 22nd Chrysanthemum Show began at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today. Flower lovers, hobbyists and growers thronged the show, where nearly 2000 pots of more than 100 varieties of chrysanthemum belonging to diverse categories have been displayed. The Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, and the Estate Organization, PAU, have jointly organized the show in the memory of Bhai Vir Singh Ji, a renowned Punjabi poet and an ardent lover of chrysanthemums.

Inaugurating the show, Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, who was the chief guest, said flower shows are the annual feature of the University and encourage growers to adopt floriculture for income enhancement. Flowers beautify the surroundings and bring peace to the mind, he remarked. Dr Dhillon called upon the visitors to grow more flowers and consult the experts of the department for commercial cultivation.

The Guest of Honour, Dr S.S. Johl, Chancellor, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, said flowers are the nature’s prettiest gift to the mankind. Different varieties of flowers in diverse hues help in improving the environment, he added.

Dr H.S. Grewal, Head, Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, said the department has released 17 varieties and PAU is a leading centre of ICAR for the development of new varieties and production technologies for chrysanthemum. In all, 200 entries have been received from educational institutions, individuals, government organizations etc. for competition, he informed.

Floriculture experts, Dr Kiranjeet Kaur Dhatt, Dr Premjit Singh, Dr Madhu Bala, Dr Parminder Singh and Dr Shalini Jhanji explained the cultivation of chrysanthemums to the visitors. They said the major aim of the show is to motivate the people to grow chrysanthemum flowers for landscape use and commercial cultivation.

Dr R.K. Dubey, Assistant Professor of Landscaping, said visitors can buy flower pots of chrysanthemum during the show tillDecember 9 or from the Research Farm of the department and PAU nursery after the show.

Varieties namely Alfred Wilson, Valiant, Thai Ching Queen, Boris Wilson, Cassa Granda, Obsession, Garden Beauty, Mother Teresa, Yellow Charm, Kelvin Mandrain , etc. were the major attraction for the visitors.