1 8 Chrysanthemum Culture for America. 



hoe had grown chrysanthemums for some years prior to that 

 date. This man, the celebrated Captain Bernet, was without 

 doubt the first person in Europe to raise the chrysanthemum 

 from seed, having produced several fine varieties in the year 

 1827. Encouraged by his first success, which attached him 

 more and more to his favorite plants, he saw his collection 

 annually increase by the addition of many new varieties. 

 Three years after this event an experienced nurseryman got 

 possession of an entire set of Captain Bernet's new chrysan- 

 themums, and propagated them for sale. Thus it was from 

 1830 to 1836 that his novelties were disseminated among the 

 plant dealers in Paris and abroad. The French chrysan- 

 themum growers are still very proud of Captain Bernet's 

 achievements with their favorite plant, and dub him with the 

 Washingtonian appellation of "Father of the Chrysanthe- 

 mum." There still remain in commerce a few of the varie- 

 ties raised by him, but they are gro\vn more as heirlooms than 

 for any value they possess, being catalogued only by a florist 

 who claims to be a grandson of Captain Bernet's old gardener. 



For the past twenty-five years those French florists who 

 have taken up the culture of the chrysanthemum have been 

 working at their improvement steadily and surely. They have 

 not only produced varieties greatly superior to any of their 

 early sorts, but they have been instrumental in producing va- 

 rieties which, in brilliancy of color, may be said to be unpar- 

 alleled. 



The most prominent growers in France of late years are 

 Simon Delaux, M. de Reydellet, Dr. Audiguer, the producer of 

 Soliel Levant ; Mons. F. Marranch, Mons. J. M. Pigny, Dr. 

 Barrie ; Victor Lemoine, who raised Fulgore, several pompons 

 and large flowering varieties ; Mons. Boulanger, who sent out 

 Gloria de Mazaryue and several other sorts not generally 

 grown in this country, and Mons. Bernard, who sent out 

 Gloria Rayonnante, M. Fremy, Reine Margot, and who also 



