66 BOOK OF THE CHRYSANTHEMUM 



bronzes, crimsons, etc., may be very effectively used, 

 either as cut flowers or pot plants for the decoration of 

 balls, banquets, receptions, etc. That there is a great 

 future before the early flowering race every one will 

 admit. 



Much has been done in hybridising of late years, 

 principally with the Japanese forms ; and some of the 

 names of raisers associated with this work, or who have 

 helped in different ways to popularise this flower, are 

 Messrs Piercy Taylor and the Rev. F, Freeman, besides 

 our principal trade growers, Sydenham, Wells, Jones, 

 Davis, etc. Across the Channel one name stands out 

 very prominently among raisers of this type, M. Simon 

 Delaux. We are informed that in the year 1891 this 

 enthusiast distributed 125 new early varieties, most of 

 which found their way to this country, many of them 

 still being cultivated at the present day. 



We have already some fair-sized blooms in this section, 

 which may be still further increased if disbudding be 

 resorted to, although this mode of treatment does not 

 commend itself to many. I am firmly convinced that in 

 the near future we shall have blooms even earlier than 

 at the present time, and considerably larger in diameter, 

 perhaps almost vieing with their sisters that one views 

 on the show boards in the month of November. We 

 need a hardier race too, that will withstand as much frost 

 nd wet as the Starworts. 



For a considerable period the Desgrange family were 

 about the best among the decorative or early kinds, but 

 these were quite out-classed with the advent of the Masse 

 group, Mdme. Marie Masse and her handsome offspring, 

 Horace Martin that delightful yellow sent out from a 

 little nursery in Bedfordshire some years ago, Ralph 

 Curtis, creamy white, Crimson Marie Masse, and Robbie 

 Burns, the latter a very pleasing shade of salmon pink. 



All the Masse group are vigorous growers and of a 



