I04 Bulletin 128. 



24, 32) which are surprising!}^ like some of the chrysanthemums, 

 but the evolution of the dahlia is only just begun. 



A brief history of the dahlia. — The first dahlias seen in Europe 

 grew in the Botanical Gardens at Madrid in 1789. The seeds were 

 sent from Mexico. The flowers were very much like that of Fig. 



25. —Miss J/ay Lonias. A large-flowered variety. 



27, /. e. they had eight rays disposed in a single circle around the 

 yellow disc. In 18 14, the first double forms were produced 

 at Lou vain, Holland, after three years' work. All members 

 of the composite family that have been through the process of 

 doubling and have enough flexibility to entitle them to extended 

 cultivation exhibit at least three strongly marked tendencies. 

 One tendency is to reproduce the single forms (Fig. 27). This 

 habit can be easily fixed and flowers of this type are called single 

 varieties. Another tendency is toward the production of very 

 large globular flowers that are completely double, as in Fig. 25. 

 These large-flowering varieties are the hardest to produce and the 

 hardest to maintain. They are always prized most highly because 



