CHARACTERISTICS OF CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 



333 



sufficiently incurved to form a globular-shaped bloom. These varieties are also 

 admissible in the general Japanese classes when not specifically excluded. Their 

 merits and defects are practically the same as in the preceding class. The blooms must 

 not be firm like the Chinese incurved. 



Hairy Japanese. — These belong principally to the Japanese incurved group, but are 

 sometimes shown in separate classes. They differ from the rest in having a covering of 

 short glandular hairs on the reverse of the florets, imparting a peculiar feathery or 

 bristly appearance. Merits and defects as above. 



Chinese Anemone-Flowered. — These, in common with reflexed varieties, are not so 

 popular among growers for exhibition as formerly, but are well worthy of retention and 

 good cultivation. The flowers have two distinct sets of florets, one quilled, forming the 

 cushion (centre or disc), the other flat, more or less horizontally arranged, and termed 

 the border or ray florets. The chief merits in an exhibition bloom are deepness and 

 symmetry of cushion ; ray florets broad, flat, and equal in length ; colouration fresh and 

 clear. Defects : Deformity of cushion ; ray florets imperfect ; staleness. 



Japanese Anemone-Flowered. — In this instance the blooms are less formal, and by 

 many considered more beautiful than their prim Chinese congeners. Unless specially 

 excluded, these largely preponderate in prize stands of twelve or more anemone- 

 flowered chrysanthemums, their size, fantastic forms, and delicate colouration giving 

 them the preference in the estimation of many growers. In these blooms the merits 

 are cushion prominent, with ray florets unequal in length and fresh to the tips. The 

 chief defects are deficiency in cushion and colour ; ray florets faulty and shrunken. 



Pompons. — These afford a pleasing contrast to the incurved and Japanese sections, 

 and are alike attractive and serviceable. The plants are of a dwarf, compact habit of 

 growth and free-flowering, while the blooms are small, somewhat flat, or nearly globular, 

 averaging 1\ inches in diameter, neat, compact, and formed of short, flat-fluted or 

 quilled florets, all of one character. The chief merits are fulness with symmetry of 

 outline ; brightness and clearness of colour ; foliage clean and healthy. Defects : 

 Irregularity of outline and deficiency of colouration. 



Pompon Anemone-Flowered. — These in their habit of growth resemble the ordinary 

 pompons, and the flowers are miniature forms of the large anemone-flowered chrysan- 

 themum. The blooms should have a prominent centre or disc of quilled florets, and the 

 ray or guard florets well developed and regularly arranged. 



Single Chrysanthemums. — Of late years single-flowering varieties have received 



