PROGRESS IN CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 



143 



ment of the ligulate florets, and so keep down, from the exhibi- 

 tion point of view, the quality of the flower. It follows, therefore, 

 that we must go back for seed while we go forward for exhibi- 

 tion quality. But for the most striking and splendid decorative 

 features to select the noblest incurved or tassel flowers for stud 

 purposes will be a grave mistake. We must rather keep in mind 

 how double Stocks and China Asters are obtained, for when 

 these are completely sterilised there will be an end of them. While 

 we make a climate for the w T ork, w T e must find fertile forms for 

 the climate ; or, by a combination of roasting and starving, and 

 allowing the plant to mature all its flowers, force the doubles 

 back upon the single forms out of which they originated, that 

 they may be fertile again and useful as seed producers. 



Having thus studied the business anew, we shall look forward 

 for results ; and the question arises, have we anything to hope 

 for in the way of new forms or new colours ? May we expect to 

 obtain a blue or scarlet Chrysanthemum ? May we expect to 

 substitute for the odour that now pleases few and offends many 

 one that shall give universal pleasure, like that of the Violet 

 or the Kose ? 



And here the question arises, is the blue Chrysanthemum of 

 the Eastern pottery a fiction or a fact ? You may find examples 

 easily wherever works of art of Chinese or Japanese origin are 

 in any plenty. One example shall suffice for my purpose, and I 

 invite attention to what is undoubtedly intended for a blue 

 Chrysanthemum on a beautiful jar of Japanese Cloisonne. It is a 

 reflexed flower with rigid florets of a full blue colour, all defined 

 with golden lines of Cloisonne work. The leaves that accompany 

 the flower are clumsily drawn, but they do not suggest that any 

 other flower is intended. On this same jar is a blue Preony, 

 which we may class with the Chrysanthemum as presenting at 

 least a parallel problem. 



Now it is a matter of some interest that the Japanese profess 

 to have this flower and to keep it as a sacred secret. The love 

 of the people for the flower is perhaps best embodied in the 

 Festival of Happiness which occurs in the ninth month of the 

 year, when the flower is in bloom, and is called Kiku-dziiki, when 

 the Chrysanthemum enters largely, as the emblem of happiness, 

 into all the ceremonies of the day. But the blue flower does 

 not appear in this festival ; it is reserved for religious uses ; it is 



