ISHS Acta Horticulturae 166: Propagation of Ornamental Plants
PREFACE |
| Author: | R. Price |
| Abstract:
Between its four-yearly Congresses, the International Society for Horticultural Science sponsors numerous symposia. Most of these are held in the northern hemisphere, and because of the success of the 1978 Congress in Australia, the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) at its meeting in Denmark 1980, decided that Australia should be given the opportunity to organise a Symposium on "The Propagation of Ornamental Plants". Early in 1981, Mr. W.F. Walker, Past President, ISHS, and then Vice-chairman, (Australasia) Ornamental Section, wrote to the Australian Government asking that an official invitation be issued to ISHS to sponsor this symposium in Melbourne in 1984. This invitation was presented to ISHS in 1982 at the Hamburg Congress and was accepted. I was nominated to be the Convenor of the Symposium. Because of the technical nature of this symposium, I sought the help of the Australian Region of the International Plant Propagators Society, who had arranged to hold their Twelfth Annual Conference in Melbourne in 1984. It was decided that we would hold a four-day program. The first three days would comprise the Twelfth Annual Conference and the fourth day the joint ISHS-IPPS Symposium around the theme of "Preparation of Mother Stock". The Symposium was held at the Ringwood Cultural Centre from 17–21 May, 1984. It was attended by 252 delegates including 19 from overseas countries. Professor W.U. von Hentig, Past President of the Section for Ornamental Plants, was a most welcome attendant. The joint symposium was chaired most capably by Mr. W.F. Walker. The papers presented are published in this edition of "Acta Horticulture". A feature of the whole Conference was the extensive range of posters and displays. A time was set aside for delegates to talk with poster exhibitors. In addition, delegates had an opportunity to visit local nurseries and special interest gardens to see a wide range of both Australian and exotic flora. I wish to express my sincere thanks to all members of the Organizing Committee who worked so hard to make this symposium the undoubted success that it was. In particular, I wish to thank Mrs. Natalie Peate for her generous support to me, and Professor Paul Read who suggested the theme for the Monday and worked so hard to make the symposium a success. Finally I would like to express my thanks to the ISHS Secretariat who are arranging the printing of the Monday Papers and Mr.
W.F. Walker for his enthusiasm and foresight in suggesting this symposium.
It was an undoubted success and I am sure all who attended will have a happy memory of all the events. | |
