8 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



Blancard was the captain of a French vessel that plied 

 between Marseilles, his native city, and the East. Early 

 in 1789, he returned from China bringing with him 

 several plants of Chrysanthemums, but only one of these 

 was he able to keep alive, and this was the variety for 

 many years known here as the " Old Purple." It flowered 

 satisfactorily in and around Marseilles, and shortly after- 

 wards was cultivated throughout Provence. Ere long it 

 reached Paris, and aroused discussion as to its proper 

 name. Some of the French savants considered it to be 

 the C. indicum of Linnaeus, but Ramatuelle, in the Journal 

 d'histoire naturelle, opposed that view and called it Anthemis 

 grandiflora. We need not nowadays discuss the question ; 

 the new-comer was generally known as C. indicum, and 

 under that erroneous designation it made its appearance 

 here in England, where, in 1795, it flowered for the first 

 time in the nursery of Messrs. Colvill at Chelsea. A 

 coloured figure (tab. 327) and a description were given 

 by Curtis in the following year in the Botanical Magazine. 

 The flower meanwhile receiving much appreciation from 

 English growers, efforts were soon made to introduce new 

 varieties, the facilities afforded by the vessels engaged in 

 the China tea trade enabling fresh introductions to be 

 made for many years in succession. It may be regarded 

 as somewhat curious that, notwithstanding Blancard's 

 original introduction, nowhere in French botanical or 

 horticultural literature can we find any record of other 

 importations being made into France. Probably the 

 disturbed condition of the country at that time and for 

 many years after may account for the lack of further 

 introductions to France. 



