27 JULY 1907, Page 26

The latest of the series of "Handbooks of Practical Gardening,"

Edited by Harry Roberts (John Lane, 2s. 6d. net), is The Book of the Chrysanthemum, by Percy Penwell. The chrysanthemum, which is the national emblem of Japan, seems, like many other Japanese things, to have been imported from China. It came into this country for the first time, as far as we know, in 1785. For the last forty years the culture has been greatly increased. The name of Robert Fortune should always be associated with it, for the develtpment of the flower into its present state was largely due to him. Mr. Follwell tells us all that we want to ktiow shout the flower.