John Cronin (horticulturist)

John Cronin was a horticulturist and public servant in Victoria, Australia.

After working as an orchard inspector in the Department of Agriculture and at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne, he was appointed Principal of the Burnley Horticultural College, Richmond in 1908. One of his students here was Olive Mellor, who became a prominent landscape architect and gardening writer.

In 1909 Cronin returned to the Royal Botanic Gardens as Director, and remained in this post until his death in 1923. During this period he built strong links with the gardening public, and carried out experimental breeding of ornamental flowers including tree dahlias and Watsonia.

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Bibliography

• Pescott, R.T.M. (1982) The Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne : a history from 1845 to 1970. (Oxford University Press: Melbourne).

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