50 THE FLORIST. 



thankless and invidious task, if undertaken in any other than a spirit of " 

 intetrrity and honesty of purpose, — viz., some investigation of the claims 

 which the new Dahhas of 1855 may or may not have to our consideration. 

 Bearing in mind the motto prefixed to this paper, I proceed, without 

 further preface, to offer an opinion of the merits of some among the 

 most prominent of the seedhngs proved during the past season — the 

 majority of which, it may reasonably be presumed, will soon present 

 themselves as candidates for our suffrages. Nay I will advance a step 

 further, and boldly assign to each what I believe to be its relative position 

 in the scale of excellence. That this last resolution is scarcely a wise 

 one I am powerfully reminded at the very threshold of my subject ; 

 inasmuch as two aspirants, with claims entirely dissimilar, rise up before 

 my vision, each, in its turn, advancing weighty reasons why it should 

 be placed at the head of the poll. After a careful scrutiny 1 find it my 

 duty, as an impartial returning officer, waiving my undoubted right of 

 giving the casting vote, to pronounce the numbers for each to be alike ; 

 I therefore bracket them thus 



r Pre-eminent (Fellowes) i 

 \ Annie (Rawlings) j ^ • 



Now no two Dahlias can be more thoroughly unlike than these, unlike 

 in everything save the attribute of surpassing beauty. The former, 

 displaying the superb and stately bearing of a Zenobia, boldly challenges 

 our admiration : the latter attracts it by the softer but not less fascinating 

 graces of a Cleopatra. Two extracts from my note book, the one 

 bearing date September 13, the other September 19, 1854, will suffice 

 to show the estimate I have formed of these two varieties. 



" Pre-eminent, originally named Combatant. A very large bold 

 purple flower, possessing unusual brilliancy, intensity and body of 

 colour, good petal, great depth and perfect centre : appears constant, and 

 must become a general favourite." 



" Annie. Lilac, one of the most perfect Dahlias in existence. This 

 is not a large flower, but in general form, outhne, petal, and centre it 

 really leaves httle to be desired. It bears, moreover, the mark of 

 constancy." 



I think it will be generally admitted of these two varieties that we 

 recognize in each the most perfect type of its respective style — in a 

 word, the Minna and Brenda of Dahlias. 



3. Lord Bath. (Wheeler.) A full sized, noble maroon, of the right 

 durable stamp, treading very closely on the heels of Pre-eminent ; its 

 general appearance is indicative of constancy, if, indeed, that property 

 may ever be predicted with safety. It combines great fulness with 

 good petal, plentiful substance, and close centre. "Take it for all in all " 

 it presents an aggregate of good qualities which cannot fail to ensure 

 for itself a very large amount of popularity. 



4. Espartero. (turner.) A dark scarlet flower of excellent proportions, 

 a little below the average size, with abundance of small, well formed 

 and well arranged petals, ample substance, and a close, high centre : 

 a very promising variety. 



5. Ringleader (G. Holmes), having been " kept in" last year, has 



