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THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



rises to a passion. With the Japanese, who love flowers above 

 every other decoration, the chrysanthemum holds the place of 

 honor, and, as the golden chrysanthemum, is the highest national 

 decoration. It is usual with them to name women after flowers, 

 and " Madame Chrysanthemum " is much favored. A custom 

 prevails among them at chrysanthemum-time of covering human 



Fig. 3. Japanese Manikins, plastered and dressed in Chrysanthemum Flowers. (From a 



photograph.) 



figures with a coating of clay and arranging chrysanthemums 

 upon them, in colors, in imitation of their dress-goods ; these 

 manikins may represent men playing some scene of action (Fig. 

 3), or women making or offering tea (Fig. 4). The figures are 

 placed on exhibition, and an admission fee is charged for seeing 

 them. 



Not all chrysanthemums can be cultivated here in the open 

 air. Some of the choicest varieties, true to their Eastern origin, 

 are too tender for our chilly autumns, and need to be sheltered. 

 But they pay well for the attention, by preserving a brighter 

 verdure, and fresher and more brilliant colors. Some effort has 

 been made, by heading in and otherwise trimming the plants, to 

 make them grow into particular shapes, but the practice has not 

 become very extensive. 



Chrysanthemums thus combine the advantage of blooming in 

 the autumn and late into the winter, and submitting to various 

 trimmings, and assuming diverse aspects. The cultivation of 



