NOVEMBER. 337 



2. And wherefore is the Dahlia thus popular ? It is because for 

 years past it has exhibited, and still continues to exhibit, unmistakeable 

 signs of improvement. Slowly it may be, but no less surely, it progresses 

 toward an ideal standard of perfection, which wdl never be attained ; 

 inasmuch as the standard itf.elf will be raised in proportion as its 

 requirements appear likely to be realized. Where are now the varieties 

 with wliich the greatest triumphs were achieved ten years since ? With 

 one solitary exception they are gone. Gradually — by twos and threes 

 — they have vanished from the scene, and their places have been 

 supplied — and, in some instances, their very numes appropriated — 

 by other and more meritorious sorts. The additions made to 

 our collectims have been duly chronicled, from time to time, in 

 these pages : it is therefore unnecessary to re-enumerate them. 

 The present object is the consideration of what has been effected 

 during the past season. I think 1 may venture to assert that in 

 no one year since the florist (I allude to the man not tha booM) 

 first took the Dahlia under his especial protection, have so many sterling 

 varieties been added to our store. Nor is this a mere matter of opinion. 

 It is abundantly capable of proof, failing which, bald assertion will ever 

 prove valueless. Let me endeavour to illustrate my position by the 

 examination of a few facts. It cannot be denied that the only reliable 

 test of a good Dahlia is the constancy of its appearance at the principal 

 exhibitions : this is a recommendation which will outweigh all the 

 certificates of all the floriculture 1 associations in the world ; — and in 

 saying this, I wish to guard myself against the imputation of unJer- 

 valuing either the associations or their certificates, (^f the former I have 

 always been a warm admirer ; and with the latter — provided they be 

 honestly and impartially distributed — I have no desire to quarrel. 

 There is, fortunately, no difficulty in ascertaining how far the new Dahlias 

 of 1855 will bear the application of the test I speak of. At the memorable 

 show held at the Cremorne Gardens on the 30th of August, the Dahlia 

 was worthily represented. What position did the new varieties occupy 

 on that occasion ? Take the four winning stands of 24 blooms exhibited 

 by amateurs. The first contained six, the second five, and the third 

 and fourth each four of the new flowers, which formed, in the aggregate, 

 one-fifth of the whole. It was, doubtless, only a coincidence, but still 

 worthy of remark, that the order of merit should have been in the exact 

 ratio of the number of first j'^ear's blooms. It would be a sore impeach- 

 ment of the judgment of the successful competitors on this occasion to 

 suppose that they preferred vew sorts to good ones ; I infer, therefore, 

 that the former obtained their position in virtue of their own inherent 

 and intrinsic worth. At Brighton, the balance in favour of the novelties 

 was heavier still : the collection to which the C up was awarded 

 contained seven, and that next in merit no less than ten of them : the 

 former comprised, moreover, one, and the latter two, sorts not yet "let 

 out ; " of these three, two, at least, are destined to become great in 

 their generation. F'or obvious reasons, I do not include the collections 

 of nurserymen in illustration of this point. If I were to do so, I 

 believe the preponderance of new varieties would be yet greater. To 

 descend a little more to particulars ; — it may be said that Pre-eminent 



NEW SERIES, VOL. Y., NO. LVIX. Z 



