The Monitor-register., 1896-12-04
AMERICAN HISTORY.

priced very highly by chrysautbemum
culturists.
AMERICAN HISTORY.
The chrysanthemum craze began in
America in 1888, when the famous vari-
ETY., Mrs. Alpheus Hardy, was sold for
u, 900 to an enterprising dealer, who in
turn made $4,000 out of the transaction
in single year.
There is very interesting romance,
which is true, in connection with this
successful business transaction. Nee
sima, the ardent Japanese student, who
escaped from the severe Japanese quaran-
tine in 1864. and made his way to
civilization" and who was befriended by
Mr.. Alpheus Hardy, of Boston, and edu-
Gated at Andover, returned later to his
native country as missionary, and to
show his gratitude to his benefactor, he
sent to him several varieties of the chrys-
anthemum, among them the white and
hairy variety, which received the name
of his benefactress, Mrs. Alphens Hardy.
That same chrysanthemum started the
present craze, the like of which no one
ever witnessed in this country before.
Long years before this wonderful event
happened we have records of the chrys-
anthemum growing in old New England
gardens as early as 1910. and perhaps
earlier; but at this time 1t obtained little
attention, as it's beauties we're undevel-
oped. What little literature we have of
the early chrysanthemum clusters around
Carolina and Virginia 1t probably grew
in the old gardens, as some of the older
people remember seeing small yellow
chrysanthemum many years ago. Being
cultivated in England in the latter part
of the eighteenth century, not long
period could have elapsed before Ameri-
can florists began cultivstiug it.
Nothing was thought of it until within
the past twenty years, when it had been
gaining in popularity, and especially since
1888, when the grand entree of the
chrysanthemnm was made from Japan.
The early American chrysanthemum
must not be coafounded with the present
varieties, as the earlier garden sorts are
the old garden "Artensia," and have no
connection whatever with modern vari-
cites. All modern varieties were intro
duced directly from Japan and China.
Earlier, some varieties were brought,
from England, but that issaH done: away
with now. The old garden ,chrysanthe-
mum has played no part in the cultivation
of the modern chrysanthemum, Ii is in
the same shape as 1t was 100 years ago,
and no doubt will always remain the
same::S So, absolutely, no credit should
be given the Artensia for the present
condition OF the chrysanthemum. The
Chinese sorts that were introduced have
nearly gone out of cultivation, and the
sort that now attracts the eye is the Jap.
anese varieties. The Chinese type is
stiff and formal and cannot stand against
the fluffy and feathery Japanese varieties.
With the exception of a small part of
Illinois and Indiana, the chrysanthemum-
raising section of America does not ex
tend over an area of 800 square miles. A
belt of country from Boston, extending
through part of New York, all of New
Jersey, to Philadelphia, comprises the
| nursery which originates all that is new
and beautiful in American seedlings. I
Mr.. John Thorpe. a world famous
Fchrysanthemlm culturist, founded the
National Chrysanthemum Society Of
America in 1889, Of which. sAe has the
honor Of being President.
i Ehrysanthemums are divided into ten
Types or classes as.follows: I. fIncurved,
Q. Japanese; 81 Japanese Incuryed; 4.
EJapanese Refexed; 5. Refsxed; 6 Large
Anemone; Z. Japanese Anemone;8 8 Pom
pom; 9. Pompon Auemone; 10. Single.
I will not attempt to describe these ten
classes, as justice can be given them only
when one has illustrations to, refer to.
! Some Qf. the snan.ea that are given
chrysanthemums by Americans, and, in
fact, all nations, is enough to give per
tson the blues" Every type of human
fity Is represented, society buds, society
Headers, business men, florists and theil
wives and children, statesmen, base bal
players, actors, in fact, ''any and every
old thing is represented. This is one
good point about the chrysanthemum; il
brings out of fossilization all the remote
and extinct forms Of humanity and
honors them by naming itself after them
THE. Japanese call their chrysantbemumt
by decidedly better names, such as "Ter
Thousand Times Sprinkled with Gold, ,
"The White Wave of Autumn" "Tht
Scarlet Robe "P urple Butterfly" Ths
tCryMal Wave. !" Mountain MIST" and 8
long list of such magnificent appella,
4 tions. ss sae Il
~ Having given long and rather tedious
i history Of the chrysauthemum, l will
endeavor (if the editor permits) to Civ,
4 in ) later issue the cultural direstions oi
Il the chrysanthemslm for growing large
n and snowy blossoms for exhibition pur
poses, either in pots or in the opeI
| ground; also the manner..of their propaga
tion, the proper soil andafertilizers to use
attended by an authorized. list of tn,
best 1896 ohrysanthemums for planting
next year, and q selected list of the olde
varieties. WARfsEN Sa4NNs !
l. Life at Washington.
~ The Inauguration of President, tht
selection of his Cabinet, aud the seating
of a new Congress events of The
coming year-suegest tbe question, VIVA
4 are the powers. and duties of these higt
officials? During 1897 it will be answered
through the Youths Companion. in a re
? tnarkabIeseries of articles by Secretary
: HerbeSts Possmasters Gen srai Wilson.
Attorney, General Harmon, Senator Eodg'
land Speaker Reed 7
II Tba Iilnstratad announcements for 1aQr