THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 41 



and that the plant shall exhibit only its flowers and foliage, and 

 not a forest of unsightly sticks supporting a weak stem with 

 little or no foliage, and colorless flowers. 



I agree with the writer who said the nomenclature of the 

 Chrysanthemum has not been much improved. Nearly all the 

 names are of private persons, which, of course, to the great mass of 

 people are as arbitrary and meaningless as " S.T.1860X," or any 

 other cabalistic combination, and yet there is always the possibility 

 in the case of every variety of Chrysanthemum of a perfectly 

 happy and descriptive name. Here is a certain Chrysanthemum, 

 for instance, with a great many riotous, rollicking red flowers 

 growing upon it, scattering themselves about in a perfectly 

 drunken way. There is one name that suggests itself instantly 

 in connection with this flower : it ought to be called the Tam o' 

 Shanter. Every bloom suggests the intoxicated Scotchman look- 

 ing back in terror at the pursuing fiends. But what is the flower 

 Jiamed ? J. Collins. Tom Collins would have been better. 



The first Chrysanthemum exhibit for prizes in this country 

 "was made at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society's Exhi- 

 bition in 1861, and the prizes amounted to $17. In 1868 the 

 exhibition was first styled the Chrysanthemum Show, and the 

 prizes were increased to $55 ; this exhibition was an entire fail- 

 ure. Up to 1868 these shows were on Saturdays, from 12 to 3 

 P.M., but in 1879 it was held on Wednesday, from 12 M. to 10 

 P.M. In 1882 the prizes amounted to $121. Though planned 

 for one day, it was kept open two days on account of the excel- 

 lence of the exhibit and the interest taken therein. It con- 

 tinued in this manner each year i;ntil 1886. The prizes were 

 increased, and in 1887 amounted to $741, and in 1896 to $1,200, 

 the exhibit lasting nearly the entire week. 



It will be observed that interest in the Chrysanthemum has 

 steadily increased year after year until the last season, when the 

 Exhibition of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society exceeded 

 all previous ones in beauty, size, finish, and coloring of the flowers 

 — and even surpassed the expectation of the most ardent admirer 

 of the beautiful Queen of Autumn, excelling all exhibits in the 

 United States, and, it is believed, not outdone in any part of the 

 world. In the attainment of this grand result, the Massachusetts 

 Horticultural Society can justly take a large share of credit, with 

 its encouraging, generous spirit toward exhibitors, entries being 



