CHINESE CHRYSANTHEMUM. . 85 



CHINESE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 



(CHRYSANTHEMUM INDICUM.) 



" For him the spring 



Distils her dews, and from the silken gem 

 Its lucid leaves unfold for him, the hand 

 Of autumn tinges every fertile branch 

 With blooming gold, and blushes from her wings ; 

 And still new beauties meet his lonely walk, 

 And loves unfelt attract him." 



This is one of our late and most desirable fall flowers ; 

 desirable because it expands its beautiful flowers at a time 

 when others cease to cheer us, thus shedding an agreeable- 

 ness around our rooms, enlivening the monotony of the 

 gloomy months of November and December, making our 

 existence appear cheerful despite of 



" Stern winter, clad in frost and snow." 



This plant is indigenous to Cochin-China, and cultivated 

 in the gardens in Japan. The first account of its introduc- 

 tion was into France in the year 1754, and the following 

 year it was imported into England ; even these were but 

 indifferent flowers, compared with those in cultivation now. 

 Such was the sensation created by these flowers, that no 

 expense was spared to improve the quality and quantity. 

 The Chinese had about fifty kinds which were cultivated 

 by them to great perfection ; large flowers being their prin- 

 cipal aim, and they never permitted more than one flower 

 to grow on a stem. Some of the Chinese fastened their 



