34 THE FLORIST. 



first species from Spain in 1789; but it is stated that this 

 plant was soon afterwards lost. Mr. Fraser, of Chelsea, 

 flowered Coccinea in 1803, when it was figured in the Botani- 

 cal Magazine, This plant was also lost. Mr. Fraser is said 

 to have obtained it from France in 1802, the same year in 

 which it was introduced from Spain to the French gardens. 

 In 1803, Mr. Woodford, of Vauxhall, flowered Cavanilles' 

 Rosea, which he had obtained from Paris ; so that, indepen- 

 dently of the Marchioness of Bute's plant in 1789, it seems 

 that both species had flowered in this country before the 

 seeds were transmitted by Lady Holland. From the above 

 it will be seen that Madrid supplied both the French and 

 English gardens. 



The first three species were named by Cavanilles, Pinnata, 

 Rosea, and Coccinea ; but these being objectionable names, 

 they were afterwards changed. Pinnata has been called Su- 

 perflua, Purpurea, Sambucifolia, and Variabilis ; Rosea, 

 Sphondyliifolia and Lilacina ; and Coccinea, Frustranea, Cro- 

 cata, and Bidentifolia. Some confusion, however, appears to 

 exist with regard to these names. 



But if it is interesting to trace the origin of the introduc- 

 tion of the Dahlia, it is no less so to follow up its progress 

 towards perfection. Count Lelieur began to direct his atten- 

 tion to Dahlias in 1808. He successively hybridised the few 

 varieties he possessed, until he obtained purples, dark reds, 

 cherry reds, buffs, and pale yellows ; and, by continued atten- 

 tion, the seedlings raised under his care at St. Cloud made 

 rapid advances in perfection. He also succeeded in raising 

 some stripes and shaded single ones, the parents of our " fan- 

 cies." In 1818, our own collections contained several double 

 varieties, and these, from their superior beauty, form, and size, 

 soon banished the single sorts from our gardens ; and during 

 the next thirty years our Dahlias made such rapid strides 

 in the march of perfection and variety, that now hardly a de- 

 sideratum is left, save, perhaps, that of a blue Dahlia. 



Beauty of Hastings, the subject of our Illustration, was 

 raised by Mr. Barham, of Springfield, in 1847, from Gaines' 

 Princess Radziwill. It possesses the fine foliage of that variety, 

 and is more erect in habit. The colour of the tip, or edging, 

 is more rosy than that of its parent, and more striking and 

 showy. The petals are a trifle more cupped, the centre 

 smaller, and more compact. It was proved in 1848. It has 

 not been exhibited large, but can be produced of a fair aver- 

 age size, and will stand good growth without becoming coarse. 



