Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-07
FOOLISHLY NAMED FLOWERS,
The Florists Craze for Naming Plants After
Society People.

The Florists Craze for Naming Plants After
Society People.
Edmund Collins In Hsrper's Bazaar.
The flower dealers have hit upon device Ia
popularize many families of flowers, notably
chrysanthemums. They discard the Latin
nomenclature to considerable extent, but in
stead Of adopting name descriptive Of some
form, color or quality of the flower, they name
it after some well-known society person. man
or woman. So far they have meddled little
with roses lilies or orchids, though one Of the
two most popular roses Of the season bears the
name of a lady-Duchess of Portsmouth. The
stately American Beauty is another great popu-
lar favorite.
But let us look at the chrysanthemums.
They have been so overchristened, suppose,
because they are in such general use for bou-
quets, boutonnieres, &C., and prominent. so
cial person liking most this or that kind pres
emily finds his name given to his favorite
blossom. / shall take few out Of a list of a
hundred or more. Now, every one who sees
much of Mr.. Elliot F. Shepard knows that
- button-hole" is q strong point with him in
personal appearance. His favorite is japanese
chrysanthemum and one Of these flowers bears
his name now all over the United States. 1t ia
very large flower, with broad, ribbon-like
petals and beautiful lemon color. The "Mrs
Cornelius Vanderbilt is also Japanese. The
flower is very large and composed of a number
OF long petals Of rose madden. The "Mrs. De
Witt Smith" is an in-curved Japanese, large
flowers, very double, the outer petals beau
tiful soft rose, changing to white toward the
center. The "Clara Riemen" is q rich lavender
rose in color, shading to silvery rose with a
white center. The flower is large, Of open sur
face and of very fine texture.
Then comes the Harry E. Widener"-a
bright lemon without shadings. The flower is
large, on stiff, stout stems, holding the flower
erect without supports; petals crisp and stiff,
but not coarse. The "AIrs. Winthrop Sar--
geant' is brilliant straw color, incurred carry
ing its flowers on long. stiff stems. 1t is prob
ably the largest in this line Of color and may
be called grand flower. Miss Minnie Wanna
maker has also passion for chrysanthemums,
and the flower given her name is a fine creamy
white, incurred. forming a perfect ball and
quite distinct from any white chrysanthemum
in cultivation. The president Harrison is
the most distinct chrysanthemum for its color,
which is salmon red outside and deep red in
side. The flowers are very double, of immense
size and is a very strong and free However. The
President wears it pretty constantly in the
lapel OF his coat. and as soon as it is generally
known that the flower can be bought by asking
for the president" there will be rush for it.
The Belle Hickey" is Chinese chrysanthe-
mum; it is large, incurred and pearly white
The MRS. Irving Clark is pearly white on
the margin, shading to deep rose in the center,
wnlch Is Deauufuliy whorled, reflexed, very
large and distinct. The Mrs. Levi ?. Norton
is bright pink and unique in appearance.
The "William H. Lincoln is q magnificent
golden yellow, with straight. fat-spreading
petals. The princess of Wales" il o tall,
blush. rose tinted flower, very fine and toll and
comes in mid-season. The MRS. G. ". Childs"
has the outside petals white. dark rose inside
and shape like the "Comte de Germany" The
''Sam Sloan" is q very large and fine flower,
pale blush and finely incurred. 1t lasts long
time. The queen Of chrynnthemums, Of
course, is the ''Mrs. Alpheus Hardy" The
flowers are Of perfect shape, pure white, in
curved Japanese.