g6 Chrysanthemum Culture for America. 



the freedom with which they respond to their numerous 

 experiments. The different classes have been so crossed and 

 intermixed that many of them have lost their identity. Sev- 

 eral varieties at the present time are of doubtful classification \ 

 even the good old Cullingfordii, so long known as a prominent 

 type of the true reflexed section, came near being tossed into 

 a new class by the National Chrysanthemum Society of Eng- 

 land. 



JAPANESE. 



A positive definition cannot be given to embrace all the 

 numerous varieties that claim relationship to this class at the 

 present time. The greater numbers of leading varieties are 

 so distinctly marked that almost each variety would require a 

 special description, although the general range of character 

 can be indicated without regard to colors, which are much 

 more diversified, brighter and richer than in any other class. 

 The forms of the florets and blooms are ample for distinguish- 

 ing the chief types. In all well developed Japanese blooms 

 the short tubular disk florets are absent, their place being 

 taken by florets either flat, fluted, quilled or tubulated ; of 

 varying length, from short straight spreading florets, to long 

 drooping, twisted or irregularly incurved ones. In breadth 

 the petals also vary much, some being an inch in width, while 

 others are scarcely larger than a stout thread ; some also have 

 the tip of the florets cupped, hollowed or curved upwards, or 

 they are strangely lacerated. The great variety of characters 

 has led to the proposal of several different methods of class.fi- 

 cation, founded upon the form of the florets. One makes 

 three groups : first, ribbon florets, like Meg Merrilies ; second, 

 twisted, as Yellow Dragon ; third, thread, like Cossack. 

 Another makes four sections ; flat florets, like Peter the 

 Great ; florets partly quilled, like Soliel Levant ; florets fluted, 

 like Cry Kang, and florets incurved, like Comte de Germiny. 

 It is not our purpose here to attempt to divide the main group 



