>_>(, THE FLORIST. 



A.8 a flower for exhibition, the Dahlia has no equal ; should 

 we be unfortunate this work, — and the best growers have re- 

 - al times, — before another is past we have an opportu- 

 nity of regaining our lost laurels without waiting till next 

 season to recruit our strength. Looking back for a number 

 of years to the principal shows of this flower, there is a lesson 

 to be learnt. In 1834 we were present for the first time at 

 an exhibition of Dahlias ; since then (excuse us for saying it) 

 we look back with much pleasure and some little pride to the 

 long list of meetings we have attended, not having missed a 

 season during the nineteen years without fully joining in the 

 exciting part of showing for competition; and with what suc- 

 cess many of our readers are aware. We are not certain, how- 

 ever, should we be spared to complete the twenty years, that 

 we shall not leave this laborious part to other hands, although 

 we have the vanity to feel we are equal to the work of winning 

 a few more first prizes yet. It is, however, no light matter 

 to get your flowers ready, reach the train, ride to York, ex- 

 hibit them, and come back the following night. Many such 

 journeys as this occur annually. 



In tracing the principal prizes for Dahlias, the highest 

 was 25/., given at Norwich in 1840; but there has been a 

 large number of 201. each. Birmingham for several seasons 

 gave first prizes to that value, the last of which was in 1840. 

 The same season a prize of that value was awarded at Cam- 

 bridge. In 1841, Halsteacl, Warwick, and Tamworth, gave 

 prizes of 201. each, since which there has been nothing above 

 10/. But what we wish to point out is, the impolicy of giving 

 such high prizes, and so few in number. For a time the 

 system was almost fatal to the Dahlia fancy; for by giving 

 the 201. for the first, and no second or third, a large grower 

 or two were enabled to monopolise the whole of the rewards, 

 which, as a matter of course, caused a great many to give up 

 the pursuit. A more healthy system, however, now prevails, 

 shewing that experience has not been thrown away upon us. 

 Not that we have any objection to good prizes ; on the con- 

 trary, we think the painstaking grower should be rewarded 

 for his exertions with a good substantial mark of distinction, 

 provided there is not too great a disparity between the 1st 

 and 2d and the 2d and 3d prizes. We had almost forgotten 

 the sweepstake of one hundred guineas for 24 blooms at Bir- 

 mingham, which we were fortunate enough to win in 1847. 



Having named a few of the principal prizes awarded to 

 Dahlia blooms, it may be interesting to many of our readers 

 to know the amount that some of our popular varieties have 

 changed hands for, when raised by amateurs, or those who do 



