INCURVED CHRYSANTHEMUMS 71 



CHAPTER V 

 INCURVED CHRYSANTHEMUMS 



THE Incurved, or Chinese, Chrysanthemums furnish a good 

 test of the skill and patience of the cultivator. My first 

 experience with Incurved Chrysanthemums was gained 

 about the time when Messrs. C. Gibson, H. Shoesmith, 

 J. Doughty, W. H. Lees, W. Mease, and W. and G. 

 Drover were amongst the principal exhibitors, and Messrs. 

 Drover produced flowers which in build and finish have 

 seldom been surpassed. During the last fourteen years 

 or so the general cultivation of this type of flower has 

 decreased, though there have been some pretty keen 

 struggles for the Holmes Memorial Challenge Cup at the 

 National Society's show between Messrs. W. Higgs, W. 

 Mease, and G. Hunt, Mr. Higgs proving the winner for 

 a period of twelve years in succession, and since these 

 successes Messrs. Mease and Hunt have each won it 

 once. 



In the matter of varieties great changes have taken 

 place. In the earlier times there were three leading 

 groups, the largest flowers belonging to Queen of Eng- 

 land and the varieties obtained as sports from it. The 

 medium sized blooms were represented by the light pink 

 variety Princess of Wales and its sports ; and lastly, 

 Princess of Teck with its varieties made up our smaller 

 specimens. Although there were certain other varieties, 

 such as the Rundle family, in existence, the three types 



