THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 



453 



enterprise and persistent efforts of the same raisers, new varieties were 

 introduced in quick succession. The novelties were of varying worth, of 

 course, in consequence of which only the better ones attained distinction 

 and came, to be freely grown. Such a result is inevitable. 



With the introduction in 1894 of a Japanese variety named Madame 

 Marie Masse, the whole character of the early-flowering Chrysanthemums 

 changed. This variety was raised by Mons. Delaux and appeared to 

 combine all those qualities that a good garden plant should possess. It 

 had a good constitution, was of a very branching habit of growth, and was 

 exceedingly free-flowering. Although officially described as lilac-mauve, 

 the colour in the border was bright, and was a pleasing contrast to the 

 many less bright tones of colour exhibited by the early varieties. Sportive- 

 ness appears to have been an inherent quality of this plant, for within 

 a few years our gardens were made quite gay with the galaxy of colouring 

 represented by varieties of similar habit which were mostly sports 

 from the original. Cream, yellow, bronze, chestnut, cerise, pure white, 

 primrose, peach, and crushed strawberry, besides other intermediate tones 

 of colour are now represented by varieties that are sports either directly or 

 indirectly from Madame Marie Masse. 



From this one variety the present race of early- flowering Chrysan- 

 themums has mostly sprung. Contrary to previous experiences, growers 

 were able to procure pollen quite easily from it, and they were quick to 

 take advantage of the opportunity of making crosses with other varieties, 

 the progeny of which has exceeded all expectations. The original variety 

 was used both as seed-bearer and as pollen-producer, and this accounts 

 for so many of the resulting seedlings partaking of the excellent qualities 

 for which the parent variety was for quite a long time famous. For 

 years it was an easy matter to trace the well-defined characteristics of the 

 parent plant in numerous varieties that were in general cultivation, but 

 the lapse of time has largely obliterated these traits, so that it is now quite 

 difficult to determine them. A matter for congratulation at this period 

 was the work accomplished by English raisers. Previous to this period, 

 however, Mr. Norman Davis, of Camberwell, and the late Mr. W. Piercy, 

 of Forest Hill, had been working with the early varieties, and the latter 

 had succeeded in raising a pompon, which he named ' Piercy's Seedling.' 

 He was not very successful in this way, few of his seedlings achieving 

 notoriety, but this variety has had a wonderful history, and is grown 

 extensively to-day in both private and market gardens. He saw what 

 few other men did, and that was the possibilities of the early-flowering 

 varieties for market purposes and for border cultivation. He was most 

 enthusiastic and succeeded in inducing many growers to take up their 

 cultivation from a commercial point of view. 



Later on, as* English raisers overcame the difficulties of seed-saving, 

 not a season passed without the introduction of many beautiful novelties. 

 The result of their efforts quite eclipsed the work of Continental raisers, 

 so that they ultimately had the field to themselves. 



In more recent years M. Nonin has succeeded, in some degree, in 

 reinstating French raisers. He has introduced quite an interesting 

 series of beautiful varieties that compare very favourably with the best of 

 our English seedlings. As a matter of fact, several of his novelties have 



