THE SHASTA DAISY 303 



MATING THE OXEYES 



The plant with which the cross was made was 

 a much larger and more robust species of daisy 

 imported from Europe, where it is known collo- 

 quially as the Michaelmas daisy, although the 

 botanist gives it a distinct name, in recognition 

 of its dissimilar appearance, calling it Chrysan- 

 themum maximum. There is also a Continental 

 daisy, by some botanists considered as a distinct 

 species and named Chrysanthemum lacustre, 

 which is closely similar to the British species, 

 and of this seeds were secured from a German 

 firm. 



Both these plants have larger flowers than the 

 American daisy, but are far inferior to it in grace 

 of form and especially abundance of bloom. 

 The plants have a coarse, weedy appearance, 

 with numerous unsightly leaves upon their 

 flower stalks, whereas the stalk of the American 

 daisy is usually leafless. 



Notwithstanding the rather coarse appear- 

 ance of the European oxeyes, I determined to 

 hybridize them with the American species, in the 

 expectation of producing a plant that would 

 combine the larger flowers of the European with 

 the grace, abundant flowers, and early blooming 

 qualities of the American daisy. The cross was 



