152 THE GARDEN BEAUTIFUL 



Norwich, and this was soon followed by the organi- 

 zation of the society at Stoke Newington, now known 

 as the National Chrysanthemum Society. 



A new era in the history of the 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 discovered was the 

 Chusan daisy. This and another small flower from 

 the same source were the parents of the tribe known, 

 from their resemblance to a rosette, as pompon 

 chrysanthemums. Still later, in 1860-62, Mr. For- 

 tune 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 Yedo for the variety 

 and beauty of its 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 Europe, they may 

 create as great change among chrysanthemums as 

 my Chusan daisy did when it became the parent of 

 the present race of Pompons." They were taken up 

 in England, proved successful, and from them sprang 

 those marvelous flowers which are the pride of our 

 gardens. 



