THE CHRYSANTHEMUM 89 



SINGLE VARIETIES 



There is no doubt that these are deservedly 

 becoming greater favourites every year. 



They are not only most decorative by them- 

 selves, but they add lightness and effect to all 

 arrangements of the double ones. 



For the last three years all the principal awards 

 for table decorations at the National Chrysanthe- 

 mum Show have been given to tables on which 

 single Chrysanthemums were either used exclusively 

 or in some proportion. This also applies to all the 

 other decorative exhibits. 



Their increased popularity is to a great extent 

 due to the fact that the varieties in cultivation now 

 are so much better than they were a few years ago. 

 It is a matter for regret, however, that there are still 

 a great number in cultivation which should have 

 been thrown away years ago, and I know no flower 

 of which it is more difficult for beginners to make 

 a successful selection than the single Chrysanthe- 

 mum ; nearly all of them have a fault of some kind ; 

 either the stem is hard and the flower cannot, when 

 cut, take up sufficient water to keep it alive, or the 

 neck is weak, causing it to droop over and strangle 

 itself, or the foliage is too big and consequently 



