THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 31 



The Chrysanthemum, by which is meant our present race of 

 autumn-flowering hybrids, is descended from two original species 

 only, namely : C. Indicum and C. Slnense. It is in reality a half- 

 hardy undershrub, for the stems, which towards the end of a 

 single season's growth assume a woody nature, if not exposed to 

 more than a few degrees of frost, retain their vitality, to some 

 extent at least, and, under such conditions, frequently break into 

 fresh growth some distance above the base. But in an inhospi- 

 table climate like ours, the stems would be invariably killed back 

 to the ground each winter, and thus become annual merely, while 

 the plant itself assumes the character of a herbaceous perennial. 

 The roots, especially those of the finer, large flowering or " show " 

 kinds, if left in the open ground, would be killed outright during 

 a severe winter, and the more effectually should the soil be damp, 

 heavy, or cold. 



Here let me say that a Chrysanthemum with small yellow 

 flowers grew in the Apothecaries' Botanic Garden at Chelsea, in 

 England, in 1764 ; but the first of the large-flowered varieties was 

 received at the Royal Gardens at Kew, and blossomed in 1764, 

 and it is from this latter that the centennial introduction of the 

 flower into England dates. 



The first English seedlings of the Chrysanthemum were raised 

 in 1835 ; and the first Chrysanthemum exhibition in England was 

 held in 1843 at Norwich, and this was soon followed by the 

 Society at Stoke iSTewington, now known as the National Chrysan- 

 themum Society. 



A new era in the history of this plant opened in England in 

 1847, by the introduction of the Pompon. In 1843, at the close 

 of the war with China, Mr. Robert Fortune was sent out to that 

 country by the London Horticultural Society to collect rare 

 plants, and one of the curiosities he fell in with was the Chusan 

 Daisy ; and this and another small flower from the same source 

 were the parents of the tribe known, from their resemblance to 

 a rosette, as Pompons. 



Still later, in 1860-62, Mr. Fortune made more discoveries at 

 the town of Ak-sax-saw in Japan. He describes this town of 

 Ak-sax-saw as the most famous place near Yeddo for the variety 

 and beauty of the Chrysanthemums, some of which were in form 

 and coloring quite distinct from any then known in Europe. 

 " If," he said, " I can succeed in introducing these varieties into 



