R 
EGAKDLESS of the fact that 
the chrysanthemum is recognized as the 
emblem of Japan, and is even called the 
“flower of Japan,” all proof indicates 
that it is of Chinese origin. History 
shows that it was cultivated in China 
over 2000 years ago, and Chinese pottery 
as far back as 1426 has an exact repro¬ 
duction of the flower in its original 
forms. Although it was introduced into 
Japan less than 2000 years ago, the 
chrysanthemum has been developed to 
a far greater extent in Japan than in 
China — its native country. . . . The 
chrysanthemum was imported into Eur¬ 
ope as early as 1688, and was first culti¬ 
vated in Holland, later in England, and 
then in France and Germany. As early 
as 1847 it was introduced into the United 
States, and great advances have been 
made in its development, so that nearly 
2000 varieties have already been origi¬ 
nated in this country, about 225 of which 
are now grown. . . . Of the many differ¬ 
ent and widely varied types of chrysan¬ 
themum, the pompon variety is the most 
useful of all. The true pompon is recog¬ 
nized by its small blooms, stunted 
growth, and small leaves. The flowers 
are quite regular and compact, arranged 
in loose clusters with dozens of blossoms 
springing from one stem. The flowers 
may be flat or globular in form, ranging 
from one to three and one-half inches in 
diameter. The pompon pictured here is 
the pink intermediate type, having 
medium-sized globular flowers. 
