PROPERTIES OF THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 
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PROPERTIES OE THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 
By Mr. G. Glexny, F.H.S. 
It is a curious circumstance in the character of the Chrysanthemum, that however nearly some of 
the flowers may approach the general form required, there is scarcely two of the same construction. 
One globular face is formed of long petals reflexing, another by a succession of cupped petals, one row 
above another to the centre; a third may he formed by a mass of incurved petals, whose spoon-like ends? 
showing the backs only, curl over and form an 
almost solid surface by their closeness; others again 
have petals broad and flat, but towering one above 
another, forming a fine symmetrical flower to the 
centre; and we have only spoken now of the varie¬ 
ties fit to show because of their approach to the 
desirable form of half a ball. But for those who 
grow a general collection for the sake of variety in 
form and colour, there are many more forms—some 
throwing out their quill-like petals like so many 
diverging rays, and scarcely opening even the ends 
of these quills at all; others again have quilled 
petals, but open at the ends a tolerably broad sur¬ 
face of the inner side; then some have long ragged 
tassel-like flowers in the form of a loose mop—but 
the most fanciful of these varied forms, and perhaps 
the prettiest of all, is that of a round disk formed 
with broad flat petals, and a globular mass of quilly florets nearly filling it. It is this variety of con¬ 
struction running through the whole family that perplexes the judges at a show; but they should 
look to the main point first: no matter what the construction, whichever flower makes up the best 
and closest half of a globe is the best flower, while those which are open and loose are the worst. 
THE POMPONE VARIETIES. 
The properties of the Pompone varieties do not vary much from those of the larger family; but as 
their diminutive size is their chief distinction, it is the more necessary that they should be compact and 
symmetrical. They must not show a disk. If the centre be not covered well, they must be discarded as 
soon as their colour can be got with a sound close centre. They should be as perfect as the ranunculus 
or double Crow-foot, and as double as a double Primrose of the better kind. The flowers should be 
abundant at the end of all the shoots in bunches, with footstalks sufficiently long to prevent the blooms 
covering each other. They should not be larger than one and a half inch diameter, nor smaller than 
an inch, and the habit of the plant should be short-jointed and shrubby. At an exhibition they must 
be shown on the plants. These should not be more than eighteen inches high, nor less than twelve 
inches, with one or more flowers perfectly open at the end of every shoot. The style of flower 
in all the family of Chrysanthemums should rank thus:—Flowers forming a half ball, ranunculus 
fashion; flowers forming a half ball by incurving ; flowers forming a half ball by reflexing ; anemone 
flowers; tasseled flowers ; quilled flowers ; flowers showing a disk. Of these the first three alone are 
showable in an open class; the anemone flowers form a class by themselves; the tasseled and quilled 
sorts are not showable except on the plant in collection. 
PROPERTIES OF THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 
1. The plant should be dwarf, shrubby, well covered with green foliage to thebottom, the leaves 
broad and bright, the flowers well displayed at the end of each branch, produced in abundant quantity, 
and well supported by the stems. 
2. The flow r er should be round, double, high in the crown, perfect in the centre, without disk or 
confusion, and of the form of half a ball. 
3. The individual petals should be thick, smooth, broad, circular at the ends, according with the 
circle of the flower, the indentations, wiiere they meet, hardly perceptible. 
4. The petals must not show their undersides by quilling, and should be of such firm texture as 
will retain them all in their places. 
5. Size of bloom to be large in proportion to the foliage, but the size only to be considered when 
plants are in all other respects equal. 
