Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-16
THE QUEEN OF AUTUMN.

Beautiful Chrysanthemum and Something
of Its History-How the Chinese Train
it Into Fantastic Forms-The Seal of the
Imperial Family of Japan.
No flower has excited so much enthusiasm
or received so much admiring attention
within recent years, and no other plant gives
to the hand that tends it such liberal return
In number and beauty of flowers as the
crysanthemum, says Chambers Journal
An eloquent writer has we'll said that Sin
power of expression, distinctness of char
acter, in forms of beauty no less cheering to
the heart than delightful to the eye, a
beauty that is unique and the embodiment
of the highest harmonies of plastic form,
thu chrysanthemum surpasses all other
flowers, not even the rose, the tulip, or the
dahlia being excepted"
The chrysanthemum belongs to the very
extensive and worldwide natural order,
composite or daisy flowers. In its culti-
waited form it originated at very remote
period. The evidence we possess points to
the existence, In the Chinese empire of cul-
tivated varieties for at least $500 years.
The progenitor of these varieties was yery
probably "ehrysanthemum indicum," a
species indigenous to China, Corea
and Japan. The flower of this species
is small, single and of a yellow color.
Some authorities, however, hold that there
is also something of the wild species sc.
morifolium" in them. Still it is remarkable
that the little species &C indicum" is contiu-
ually reproduced from seeds saved from
blooms of the finest form and highest cul-
ture. This tendency to revert to first forms
(ativism) is observed in many other culti-
vated plants, and the fact of sc. indicum"
being so frequently found among seedlings
is very strong argument in favor of the
opinion that it is really the progenitor of all
the garden varieties.
The earliest literary reference to the chrys-
anthemum we find in the ''Li-Ki" of Confu.
cius, written about 500 B. c. TIE Chinese
value it very highly, and no other flower is
SO conspicuous in their gardens and homes.
1t is their national flower, and is to them an
emblem of everything that is graceful and
beautiful. They grow it to high state of
cultivation, tending it with their we'll
known untiring patience, and often train it
into the most fantastic shapes, such as horses.
stays, -pagodas, boats, etc. Their poets never
tire of singing its praises, nor their painters
of depicting its graces. In the Franks col
lection of Chinese ware in the British Mu-
ing articles of porcelain may be seen
decorated with it. The oldest piece
in this fine collection is dish ornamented
in an archaic style with chrysanthemum
flowers bearing the mark of the period
''Seuen-tih," which is equivalent to the de-
cade 1426-36 i'll our era. Mr.. Fortune, in
an account of his travels in China, tells us
of the grandeur of the Chinese gardens, and
the prominent place the chryssnthemum
holds in them. He says that at night
during the autumn and early winter, it is
common sight to see in the gardens of the
wealthy banks of magnificent blooms
illuminated with lanterns. He also relates
that he saw life-sized efigies of various
national heroes constructed of the flowers.
The chrysanthemum is also a great favor
ite of the Japanese. who seem to have pro-
cured it from the Chinese at very early
date. Having ideals of beauty somewhat
dissimilar to those of the Chinese, they have
selected different forms of the many varlties
which the plant produces The Kiku, as
they call it, has been chosen as the crest of
the imperial family, and is used on the
official seal