88 Chrysanthemum Culture for America. 



because of its great importance ; Second, the consideration 

 and selection of collections for all purposes ; Third, the best 

 method of producing the best specimens of all kinds and for 

 all purposes ; Fourth, supervision as far as possible over 

 those distributing chrysanthemums, so as to insure their being 

 true to name ; Fifth, the formation and establishing of socie- 

 ties in all cities, towns, and villages, where they do not 

 already exist. 



A taste for flowers and decorative plants accompanies the 

 development of culture and refinement as naturally as the 

 taste for music or art, and as the florist depends upon this 

 taste for his living, he should endeavor to increase this inter- 

 est by all legitimate means. In large cities where there are 

 public parks and botanical gardens, well kept and tastefully 

 decorated, the people insensibly acquire an increased taste 

 for fine plants and flowers ; but in communities where no such 

 parks or gardens exist, the grower can best reach cultivated 

 people by a flower show, thus creating an interest in his 

 plants, and developing a market for them. In the Eastern 

 states as well as in England, flower shows are given because 

 the taste is already cultivated, and the public desires to see the 

 best the gardeners can produce. The temptation of substan- 

 tial prizes, and still more, the prospect of greater reputation 

 in his community, is an inducement to the grower to make 

 the best efforts possible to surpass his neighbor, so that the 

 combined results of these individual efforts is the display of 

 such a collection as under other circumstances would rarely 

 be brought together. 



In most of the large cities where horticultural societies exist, 

 monthly exhibitions are held, at which papers are read of 

 interest to the craft, and subjects of importance in both flori- 

 culture and horticulture are freely discussed. At the autumn 

 show, however, the chrysanthemum holds chief place. It 

 has developed so quickly and grandly from its unassuming 



