I 

 Chrysanthemum Shows and Organizations. 87 



several years a chrysanthemum display, at which no premiums 

 were offered, but an admission fee was charged, usually for 

 benevolent purposes, the plants being contributed from the 

 gardens of amateurs in the vicinity. 



Through the enterprise of the Piedmont Exposition Com- 

 pany, of Atlanta, Georgia, the first of a series of chrysanthe- 

 mum shows was held in the fall of 1890, at which valuable 

 prizes were offered. 



The National Chrysanthemum Society of America was 

 organized at Buffalo, New York, in August, 1889, during the 

 meeting of the Society of American Florists in that city. The 

 veteran John Thorpe, of Pearl River, New York, being the 

 moving spirit in the enterprise, took the lead as president, 

 with Edwin Lonsdale, of Philadelphia, as secretary, and John 

 Lane, of Chicago, as treasurer. " If ten years ago it had been 

 said that a National Chrysanthemum Society would be in 

 operation in 1890, many would have said that those who 

 hinted at such a thing would be a good deal safer in some 

 insane asylum, where their utterance would not disturb the 

 minds of their brethren v/ith such absurd predictions." So 

 said Mr. Thorpe soon after the formation of the Society. A 

 year, however, has passed, and the author regrets his inabil- 

 ity to chronicle any of its achievements. Probably time is 

 required to lay the foundations of such a glorious institution 

 as we would fain see the National Chrysanthemum Society 

 become. We trust the moving spirits in the organization 

 will pursue the good work so cheerfully undertaken until their 

 fullest ambition is attained, and thereby gain the admiration 

 of all toilers in the world of "mums." 



The work proposed by Mr. Thorpe to receive the first 

 attention of the Association is as Follows : First, the super- 

 vision and discrimination to be given to seedlings before they 

 are distributed ; this is mentioned first because there are so 

 many now foisted upon the market that are worthless, and 



