FLORIST, FRUITIST, AND GARDEN 

 MISCELLANY. 



THE DAHLIA. 



(Plates 108 and 109.) 



With the commencement of a new volume we present our readers 

 with coloured illustrations of two of the leading Dahlias exhibited 

 last season as seedlings, and to be sent out in spring next for the 

 first time. Both of these have obtained first class certificates at 

 the National Floricultural Society, and are generally esteemed as 

 two first class flowers by our best growers, as Avill be seen from 

 the returns given in another part of the present number. 



Bessie was raised at Bath by Charles Sainsbury, Esq., whose 

 name is familiar to Dahlia growers as the raiser of Beeswing, Sir 

 R. Whittington, Duke of Wellington, Bob, and several other 

 varieties. Bessie is not only the finest yellow variety that has 

 come under our notice, but is the best model — i. e., possesses the 

 greatest number of good points — we have in any Dahlia, when at 

 its best, having a smooth evenly cupped petal, and great depth. 

 The only fault we could at any time discover was a want of firm- 

 ness in the centre of a few of the blooms exhibited. It, however, 

 should be added that it was shown in very large numbers, — six, 

 twelve, and twenty-four blooms at a time, and that frequently. 



Perfection is the production of Mr. John Keynes, of Salisbury, 

 and is a good companion to Sir F. Bathurst, Rachel Rawlings, 

 and others by the same raiser. It was first named Eugenie, and 

 is best known as Orange Perfection, but it is in future to be called 

 Perfection. This variety was raised from Morning Star, and 

 partakes of the colour of that old variety, bright shaded orange. 

 The petal is very good, cupped, and beautifully arranged ; we have 

 heard it described as a little too flat and low in the centre. In 

 this respect it partakes a little of the character of its parent, 

 as well as in colour. It is, however, a very great improvement on 

 Morning Star, as will be evident from the representation we 

 have given. 



NEW SERIES. VOL. Vr., NO. LXl. B 



