Oriental and European History. 15 



It will be seen that up to this time a great diversity of opin- 

 ion existed among botanists as to its true generic and specific 

 name. The writings of Joseph Sabine afford much use- 

 ful and interesting information regarding the diversity of 

 opinion as to which genus the large-flowering or Chinese 

 chrysanthemum belongs. He contended that the varieties 

 then known were not the C. indicum of Linnaeus. In his ex- 

 haustive papers he gave an account of his study and research, 

 definitely setting the whole matter at rest, the result being 

 that the small-flowered varieties were C. indicum, whereas the 

 large Chinese chrysanthemum of 1789, and its successors, 

 were proved by him to belong to an entirely different species, 

 thenceforth to be known as C. Sincnsis. 



The chrysanthemum, up to 1824, was distinguished only by 

 its form and color. The Chinese names, many of which were 

 curious and fanciful, could only be applied with uncertainty. 

 The following, translated from the original by Mr. Reeves, 

 will serve as examples of the names by which the chrysan- 

 themum was known in the Celestial Empire: "The purple 

 lily, the white wave of autumn, the purple peasant's tail, the 

 scarlet robe, the yellow go]d thread, the purple butterfly, the 

 purple peasant's feather, the yellow tiger's claw, the crystal 

 wave and the drunken lady." 



The Japanese also, in bestowing names, follow the example 

 of their neighbors, and it is not unusual to find them exhibit- 

 ing varieties labeled with such names as "Mountain Mist," 

 "Autumnal Cloud," and "Ten thousand times sprinkled 

 with gold." 



A few years afterwards, as soon as the French and Dutch 

 started in a sort of floral hero worship, a new system of 

 nomenclature was brought into existence by naming the plants 

 after the principal celebrities in their respective countries. 

 In 1827 a writer in " Hone's Table Book," under the heading 

 of "Winter Flowers,'' refers undoubtedly to the chrysanthe- 



