Chinese Chrysanthemum* 376 



and that they place pots and jars in which it is growing, on 

 their tables, when they give entertainments. He adds, that 

 it is esteemed a mark of respect to present the finest flower 

 to the most honored guest; and, as the extent and value of 

 the compliment are estimated by the size of the flower, he 

 tells us, that in order to produce these large flowers, the Chi- 

 nese gardeners are obliged to check the growth of the plant, 

 as, if it is left to itself, it becomes tall and rude, and produces 

 little else than leaves; but that when it is made dwarfish, 

 the flowers are abundant. He also tells us, that each branch 

 usually produces three blossoms, but that the Chinese pinch off 

 two of these in the bud, which occasions the remaining flower 

 to increase so much, that it is often broader than a man's hand ; 

 and that if the same plant be suffered to remain more than 

 two years in the ground, it degenerates : for wliich reason, 

 he continues, the Chinese raise new plants every year. 



This history is curious on account of the details respecting 

 culture, which agree so well with the practices and experience 

 of modern days, as to afford another proof of what has so often 

 been observed, that many of what we consider modern im- 

 provements, are in fact only the revival of ancient knowledge. 

 The Chrysanthemum is next mentioned by Thunberg, in 

 his Flora Japonica ; and he not only describes it in its wild 

 state, but says that the extreme beauty of its flowers had caus- 

 ed it to be cultivated in gardens and houses throughout the 

 whole empire of Japan. The first of these plants introduced 

 into England, was brought from China in 1764, and from that 

 period until within fifteen years past, all the kinds grown in 

 British gardens were from the same country. 



The botanical name of the Chinese Chrysanthemum has 

 been changed several times. The old botanists who first 

 described it, called it Matricaria, supposing it to be a kind of 

 wild Chamomile. Linnaeus named it Chrysanthemum Indi- 

 cum ; which was changed by Sabine to C. sinense. Willde- 

 now gave it the name of Anthemis Artemisiatfolia ; and De 

 Candolle has removed it to the genus Pirethrum. 



The culture of the Chrysanthemum, even at the present day, 

 strongly resembles what Rumphius tells us of the practice of 

 the Chinese; as it is found that it is apt to degenerate, if not 



