The Monitor-register., 1896-12-04

HISTORY OF THE CHRYsANTHEMUM.
ORIENTAL HISTORY.
The chrysanthemum has been Guilt
waited by the Chinese for more than 2, 800
years. The Chinese species is called
ChrysaD themum Sinense, and is supposed
to be the species from whence came all
our modern varieties, including those of
Japanese origin.
The chrysanthemum derives it's name
from the Greek words c1rysos, gold, and
anthos, a flower, the literal being, there.
fore, ''gold fower,". land in the yellow
varieties the petals are of rich golden
color, which abundantly justi6es the
name.
Later, we hear of the chrysanthemum
being introduced into Japan from China,
assuming different characteristics under
different conditions of soil and climate,
and receiving the name Chrysanthemum
Indicum. Therefore, In the evolution of
the chrysanthemums, we are concerned
Sinepse, of Chinese origin, and Chryssn,
themum Indicum. of Japanese origin.
These two we're originally wild flowers
in their native countries, aud are so to
this day.
1t is difficult to say when the chrysanp
the mum was first mentioned in Chinese
literature, and, therefore, we have no
reliable records of its early ex istence in
the Celestial Empire. The Japanese
literature is more complete, however, and
con sequently we have some very interest
ing accounts of its early history in the
land of the Mikado. Z
The first Japanese record of the chrys-
anthemum is dated 1856 A. D., when, it 10
said, the King of Corea was compelled to
pay tribute to the Emperor of Japan.
red, yellow, black, white and blue chrys'
anthemum. And it might be mentioned
here with effect, that no blue chrysanthee
mum exists either in America or Eur ope;
but, instead, we have the rather unrelia-
BILE consolation of knowing that In japan
it is supposed that the Japanese Buddhist
Priests are jealously guarding blue
chrysanthem from the business sharks
of the western world. Some day, per-
haps, we may get sight of this famous
blue ohrysanthemum, which, we are
assured, exists somewhere in Japan; but
up to the present day it has been sought
in vain. ,s,....s.s,......ss..s.;s., ,s....
Later in the history of Japan, ID the
year 1856. eight centuries after we Fl rst
heard of its cultivation IN Japan, and
seven centuries before the present furess
over ohrytanthemums was raised In
America, we hear of it again; this time
as before, honored by the sovereigns Of
Japan. The Emperor Go Tobs, who
assembled the throne in 1856. bad the
chrysanthemum, or "kiku," as it is called
in Japan, engraved on the hits of his
swords, and since that time the chrysan-
themum has been engraved on the crest
badges of the Imperial family, and is
also used as an Off cial seal by them.
The Japanese Imperial Order of the
Chrysanthemum was founded in SO recent
date as 1876, and is the most august
aad distinguished decoration of the EN-.
pire. Ii consists of star and collar
hung around the neck of a riband, the
whole work being done in gold, silver
and enamels. 1t is bestowed very rarely,
and then only upon crowned heads, and
Consequently the European sovereign who
has been 90 fortunate as to receive it
treasures it as very high distinction.
The chrysanthemum is tiSee uasfoual
flower Of Japan, and is called the .Qaeen
of Flowers" by that people.
EUROPEAN HISTORY.
In Europe, 200 years ago, it first be-
came known under the name of Matri
caria, and Holland seems 20 have the
honor of first cultivating it in Europe.
1t made no impression on the Dutch
flower-growers, however, and they seem
to have absolutely forgotten II. as in 1889,
one century later (she date it was intro
duced into England). they hailed n as d
distinctly new innovation. The date OF
it's introduction Into HOLLAND, which was
1859, the HeHapderss veresspo bnsy, spec
ulating on tulip bulbs and ton. far gone
with "tuIipmsai6 pay any attention
to any other f15~A eyen the beautiful
chrysanthemum. That accounts,I think,
for their ignorance Of itssintroduction
among them.
In 1889 the National Chrysanthemum
Society of England celebrated. it's Tooth
anniversary of the chrysanthemum' in.
PRODUCTION into England. But even before
1885, the time when it was supposed its
existence began in England, planss were
found growing in the Apothecarius Bo-
taric Garden, at Chelsea, and later ere
lost sight of, unfortunately.
Twice in the last century the English
have ''gone crazy" over chrysanthemums.
In the year 1843 Robert Fortune was
sent to Japan by the Horticultural
Society of London. and on his return, in
known as Chusah Daisy. They were at
once introduced into the Versailles Nurs-
cry, and their seedlings became more
double than the original. From their
resemblance to rosette they were there
after called Pompons, and from those two
varieties all the Pompons now in cultiva-
ton have sprung; and, also, from those
two Daisies the National Chrysanthemum
Society of England received it's impetus,
as that world famous organization was
founded in 1846.
She second craze was started in 1861 by
the same collector. Robert Fortune. He
sent from Japan, while on his second
journey to the East, seven varieties of
the sc-called Japanese chrysanthemums,
and those seven varieties almost caused .
revolution in the chrysanthemum world,
and to day are the most popular sorts
either in America or Europe.
The French are recorded as giving very
little attention to the chrysanthemum
until lately, and all credit for their early
introduction and advancement should be
given to the English There are no
chrysanthemum societies in France The
J French florists grow chrysantbemums,
not for large blossoms, but rather for a
plumber of flowers on plant. or course,
all the Horticultural societies in France
give sDnral ehfysapthemums Shove, " hich