140 THE CHRYSANTHEMUM 



retain their distinctive character, the Anemone form 

 of Chrysanthemum is secured." 



Present day classification, therefore, is based upon 

 the peculiarities of petalage and the distinctive forms 

 they give to the flower, all of which seem simple 

 enough. It would be, were all the peculiarities mark- 

 edly defined, but there at once confront us varieties 

 of intermediate type with characteristics pertaining 

 to more than one class, and with this comes the dif- 

 ficulty of making the classes absolute and defining 

 where these intermediate types strictly belong a con- 

 dition that will always continue by reason of the 

 inherent variability of the flower. In American gar- 

 dens the Japanese types largely predominate; in fact, 

 to the almost entire exclusion of other interesting and 

 hardly less beautiful types which, with European grow- 

 ers, find considerable favor and give the charm of 

 variety to their displays and exhibitions. 



The classification as adopted and observed by the 

 National Chrysanthemum Society of England is fol- 

 lowed here, with a citation of the distinguishing char- 

 acteristics of form and petalage constituting the basis 

 of arrangement. 



Section 1. Incurved varieties. 



These are also sometimes called Chinese varieties. 

 The class has never found the favor, nor attained the 

 prominence here that it has with European growers. 

 Substantial prize offers at some of the leading exhi- 

 bitions have also failed to bring out any good repre- 

 sentation of the class. The varieties placed in this 

 class all have strap-shaped florets or petals which curve 

 regularly inward, forming a more or less solid bloom 

 of even outline and almost spherical. Any irregularity 

 of form or failure to develop to a high, perfect, well- 



