CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETIES 17 



crease the interest of the public in the popular autumn 

 flower. 



In these later days the London County Council provides 

 free displays of Chrysanthemums in most of the public 

 parks. Finsbury, Waterlow, Victoria, Brockwell, South- 

 wark, and Battersea Parks afford the inhabitants of those 

 districts excellent opportunities of admiring the Chrys- 

 anthemum as a town flower. 



Ardent admirers have other means of gratifying their 

 taste. There are committee meetings of the Royal Horti- 

 cultural Society and of the National Chrysanthemum 

 Society, where the novelties of the season are staged. 

 There are also the numerous trade displays, which are 

 open during the whole season, and where visitors are 

 always welcome. 



The enthusiasm for the Chrysanthemum has spread over 

 all the temperate regions of the world. In Australia, Mr. 

 Pockett has raised first-class varieties for the English ex- 

 hibitions. In America, in France, in Belgium, and else- 

 where, Chrysanthemums are cultivated for exhibition. 



In the middle half of the nineteenth century, the chief 

 varieties shown at the exhibitions were Pompons and In- 

 curveds, although others such as the tasselled forms 

 existed. In the Incurved section especially great pro- 

 gress had been made, Mr. John Salter and the Channel 

 Island raisers having been successful in producing flowers 

 of superior merit. These were cultivated in large numbers, 

 but until 1854 there was really no authoritative decision 

 as to the properties that should be considered requisite in 

 a show Chrysanthemum. The Incurved form was finally 

 adopted, and remained the standard of perfection for 

 many years. Mr. George Glenny, a famous florist in his 



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