For March, 1921 



507 



they make a beautiful edging for almost anv border, 

 Nkrus is more bushy than the other. 



Chrystal, a fine pink incurved cactus dahlia, may be 

 planted in the place of Hortulanits Fict; or for another 

 combination. Attraction, the finest lavender grown, with 

 frilled petals somewhat resembling Madonna, though with 

 much more rigid stems. 



For a planting of deeper tones try George Walters, a 

 huge hybrid cactus of dull rose with a faint golden sheen, 

 with Ccrcelia. a creamy >ellow peony, or the Diiclicss of 

 BriuL'Ti^'ick, a splendid pink peony, though with not very 

 good stems. Place CoH)itcss of Lonsdale, that wonderful 

 old favorite rose colored cactus in front, and edge the bed 

 with Sweet Alyssum or Dusty Miller. 



For those who Io\e the reds, there are Miiia Burgle, 

 Kalif or I'alliaiit. which look best with a contrasting 

 white, such as Mrs. Struck or Alaz'anche. Etna, a scar- 

 let mignon, may edg'e this bed. 



The Autumn tones can be combined with Copper at 

 the back, a tall peony whose name denotes the color, and 

 King of the Autuinii, medium apricot decorative; and 

 edged with two nn'gnons. 0//ir (orange), and Pcnibrook 

 (yellow), alternately. 



Another wonderful combination is Pierrot, an orange 

 and yellow variegated incurved cactus, with graceful pen- 

 dulous heads, and Melody, a pale yellow and white dahlia 

 of the same type. They are beautiful together in the gar- 

 den, and in a tall vase in the house cannot lie surpassed. 



Countess of Lonsdale on the small dinner table, or 

 Chrystal on the large, arranged with soft foliage, are both 

 exquisite. Occasionally rough handling will whip the 

 head from some large dahlia. Do not throw it away, but 

 float it on a flat dish, black, if you have one, together with 

 a few ferns, and see what a beautiful table decoration yoti 

 have. The pom-pom, Grctclicn Heine, a dainty pink, 

 makes a lovely centrepiece when placed in a clear glass 

 bowl. Some of the buff and yellow pom-poms combine 

 well with deep purple J'eronica. 



The single dahlias. Xncport Pink or Xewport JJ'hite. 

 combine well with a bowl of lavender Buddleia. and a 

 spray or two of Maiden Hair Rue. Do not fail to place 

 two or three blooms of Deliee in a vase of purple helio- 

 trope. It is worth growing the heliotrope for that alone. 



.St. Egwin Aster combines well with any of the pure 

 pink dahlias, either used as a cut flower or as an edging 

 to the bed of dahlias. If used in the garden, however, 

 care should be exercised to keep it within bounds, as it is 

 a rank grower, and will wage war on th'- dahlia roots if 

 allowed too near. 



The few named varieties I have mentioned are all staml- 

 ard sorts, and may be purchased for a dollar a tuber or 

 less. There are hundreds of others, and I could make a 

 thousand suggestions — ^but then, you see, I am riding a 

 hobby. 



Won't you get on and ride with me? You will then 

 grow dahlias and more dahlias — and still more dahlias: 

 and vou will have the healthiest and happiest time of your 

 life. ' 



Order some now and see if I am not right. 



HAS PERFECTION BEEN REACHED IN ROSES 



{Continued from page 4'^')) 



Increase of size of bloom will in my judgment detract 

 rather than improve their beauty. 



Vigor of growth, freedom from disease and the length- 

 ening of the blooming period of strictly hardy and climb- 

 ing roses through continued selection and seeding, are 

 improvements that may be hoped for. 



James R. Pitcher. 



THE DAHLIA— THE GREATEST OF ALL 



FLOWERS 



E. L. Kunzman 



A -MAJORITY of the public, if asked which is the 

 ^^ greatest flower, will answer, the Rose, some may 

 sa_\- the Lily, others the Sweet Pea, but few will name the 

 Dahlia. 



Why is it so? I venture to say that it is because they 

 do not know the Dahlia of today, and have in mind those 

 of our forefathers, the ordinary ball type of unattractive 

 coloring and comparatively no stem. In my years of ex- 

 perience I have never known anyone who, on first seeing 

 the modern Dahlia, did not exclaim with delight and pleas- 

 ure — and the Dahlia deserves it. 



I contend that the Dahlia of today is the greatest of 

 all flowers, by far, and only those unacquainted with it 

 will dispute the statement. But if you should want posi- 

 tive proof, grow them yourself. 



The Dahlia will do well in any situation ; almost any 

 location, soil or climate, if given proper attention. This 

 "attention"' means preparing the soil thoroughly by dig- 

 ging or plowing it and fining or pulverizing it : planting 

 rather late than early ( after corn planting time ) ; keeping 

 the top soil, which must not be rich, nor too poor, loose 

 by hoeing or otherwise. 



Use water only when exceedingly dry, soaking the 

 soil every eight or ten days, and restirring top soil 

 next day or so. 



.\n application of liqui i manure or phosphate fertilizer 

 when flower buds appear, and at intervals of three weeks 

 or so will guarantee fine bloom. 



Keep all old bloom ofif the ])lants (the more vou cut 

 from the Dahlia, the better it blooms). 



What other flowers will do well in any kind of soil? 

 None. 



Also, the Dahlia has the widest variation in size, color 

 and shajie of any flower. We have the tiny Pompom, the 

 old-fashioned Show or Ball typ^, the later Cactus; deco- 

 rative ; 'Peony, flowered ; Collarette, Anemone and Cen- 

 tury or Single types, some attaining huge proportions, 

 many so beautiful it is impossible to do them justice in 

 any description. Xo matter what flower we think of, there 

 is some variety of Dahlia closely resembling- it in shape. 



What are the other points of superiority ? 



They are the most inexpensive ; for, when roots are 

 once bought, we always have the stock, and an increasing 

 quantity, if care is taken in \\'inter storage. An ordinarv 

 cellar is the best. 



The Dahlias have a longer continuous blooming period 

 than any flower. They produce far more bloom to the 

 given area than any other. The more one knows of the 

 Dahlia, the more alluring it is. 



Now, I wonder why, in view of the foregoing facts, the 

 Dahlia is so little known ? Is it because its rise in great- 

 ness has been so swift, or is it because we who do know 

 it, let our love for it become so self-absorbed we do not 

 think of advertising its beauties and virtues? 



Let us, who are acquainted with this fascinating flower, 

 decide to give it at least a small portion of its due and 

 proclaim its many good points wherever chance offers. 



If the modern Dahlia were as well known and adver- 

 tised as the Rose, for instance, there would be no com- 

 parison between it and others in popularity, and the lives 

 of millions would be made happier thereby. 



Our helm is given up to a better guidance than our 

 own; the course of events is quite too strong for any 

 helmsman, and our little whern,' is taken in tow by the 

 ship of the great Admiral which knows the way, and has 

 the force to draw men and states and planets to their 

 good. — Emerson. 



