The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-10-29
History of a Flower.

There is, it seems, fashion in flowers,
as in everything else. The tulip, the
primrose, and the marguerite each had
their day and passion La France, Baro-
ness, Jacqueminot, and Perle des Jardin
roses follow each other rapidly in the
affections of this tickle goddess. And so
it comes about that the chrysanthemum
certainly one of the most deserving OF
them all, holds sway to-day, surrounded
by court whose numbers and loyalty
are equalled only by that of the rose.
The introduction of the chrysanthemum
to European gardens forms quite tale.
Though ancient dishes and swords, in
the British Museum and elsewhere, attest
by their decorations, in which this flows
er is frequently employed, that it was
known and admired centuries ago in
China and Japan, it came westwardly
much more recently. The late celebra-
ton of it's centenary in England brought
out some interesting facts.
A variety of the chrysanthemum is
said to grow wild on the island of Sicily,
where centuries ago it received it's name
at the hands of monk, who called it
St. Christopher's rose. 1t was probably
known in Holland in the seventeenth
century, but for some unexplained rea-
son seems to have been lost, or dropped
from cultivation, for when, a hundred
years later, the large Towering variety
was introduced from China it was hailed
as novelty. From purple-the single
color known-were developed rose, buff,
and white varieties. The French look
it up, and in their favorable climate
were able to ripen seeds, at once enlarg-
ing the field of operations, while the
flower became so thoroughly popular
that great annual exhibitions were com
menced in its interest.
The next era in the history OF the
chrysanthemum came with the introduc
ton by the great English botanist, Rob
ert Fortune, of new varieties from ia
pan; perhaps the most important event
| of all from it results in the development
of the flowers. For, though frowne(
upon at first by those of severe academ
| ic notions as to what constituted perfec
ton of shape, the new chrysanthemun
survived this period, and by its extrem
grace and artistic character won it's wa.
rapidly to the first place, while in tn
hands of intelligent cross breeders 1T be
came the progenitor of novel and splen
| did varieties undreamed of before.
From this point its progress has bee
one of unbroken triumphs. It's posslbl
tiles, too, seem to-day as inexhaustibl
as ever, though English, French, an
American florists have sent out cor
slant stream of new and magnificent va
riet1es. Moreover, there came recentl
in the face of all these successes, an
from far Japan again, one more wonde
greater than all it's predecessors here, tn
marvellous Mrs. Hardy, named for tn
lady to whom the cutting was sent, wit
several others scarcely less admirable, Q
the lamented Mr. Neesima.
Few flowers have shown SO plant
nature in the hands of man; of wht
new forms of beauty it may still be Ct
| pable, even to hazard a guess would (
, rash. Meanwhile the existing varietle
with their ravishing wealth OF color an
their infinite grace and variations
form, compel the homage OF the behol
ers The annual exhibitions grow mo
and more interesting, and those held
this city have the enviable reputation
being second to none either in varlet
originality, or wealth of display