CHAPTER VIIL 



Chrysanthemum Shows and Organisations. 



THE first chrysanthemum show not of a competitive 

 nature, was probably that held in the gardens of the 

 London Horticultural Society at Cheswick, in the 

 autumn of 1825, when all the recently introduced 

 novelties from China were shown, about seven hundred plants 

 being exhibited. Another was given in 1829, at Norwich; 

 this was by the Norfolk and Norwich Horticultural Society. 

 A show was held in 1831, in Vienna, where, it is interesting 

 to note, more sorts were known at that time than in England. 

 A few years later, in 1836, Birmingham and Swansea, in South 

 Wales, each held shows. After these shows were inaugurated 

 they gained steadily each year in public favor, until every 

 town in England had followed their example, and each suc- 

 cessive year's display has outdone its predecessor, until 

 to-day, the craze may be said to be at its height. At one of 

 the recent shows in London, 10,000 people paid for admission 

 the first day, and at Hull, Portsmouth, Kingston, and other 

 places the crowds are surprising. Almost everytown in Eng- 

 land has a chrysanthemum society, and in all European coun- 

 tries, especially in Belgium and the North of France, the 

 chrysanthemum is becoming a very popular flower, as it also 

 is in New Zealand, Australia and Tasmania. 



(83) 



