Horticulture

Horticultural activities are expanding rapidly at Cobbitty and valuable links are being forged with other horticultural groups in the Camden area such as Mt Annan Botanic Garden and Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute. Some co-operative work has also commenced with the horticulture group at the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Rural Management at Orange and projects are being developed with will include testing of material at the Institute’s Narrabri facility.

The Institute is involved in a broad spectrum of horticultural research, breeding and education.

During the year a review of horticultural activities led to the recognition of the following key areas:

• herbaceous ornamentals
• turf and landscape grasses
• woody perennials
• horticultural crops

Each of these areas is centred on an industry orientated breeding programme supported by staff and post-graduate student research. In addition to research based degrees, the educational component includes vocationally orientated Master’s and Graduate Diploma courses, teaching contributions to the undergraduate Bachelor of Horticultural Science degree in the field of amenity horticulture, supervision of some 4th Year research projects and industry extension activities.