buo 



GARDENERS' CHROMCLE 



large flowers look right at one, just like a sunflower. 

 I have cut stems of this variety five feet in length. 

 It is a profuse bloomer and was the cynosure of all 

 who saw my collection this year. 



The Emperor. Decorative, one of Judge Alarean's 

 which is to be introduced this year. I was fortunate 

 in getting a bulb of this variety from the introducer 

 to try the past season, and I can certainly testify 

 to its superiority. It is a beautiful dark, self color 



me during the shows. The flowers are large, splendid 

 in shape, and a rich, golden yellow, produced freely 

 on very good stems. 



Rookzi'ood. Decorative. Here is I think the very 

 best variety that I have yet seen from California ; 

 somewhat dwarf in habit with me, but it has beautiful, 

 dark pink flowers, and produces very freely. 



Shiidovj's Lavender. Decorative, a very pretty 

 shade of lavender from California. It is a tall grower 

 with the flowers produced on top of the stem. The 

 color faded out to nearly white during the hot weather. 

 I shall try this variety again, though I am not very 

 favorably impressed with it. 



Patrick O'Mara. Decorative. While this variety 

 has somewhat disappointed me, I think it is only due 

 to the extreme trying conditions. It was very good 

 with me during August, but during September the 

 florets turned very bad, before the flower was fully 

 developed. It has a fine stem and while I do not think 

 it will ever make a great exhibition flower, I believe 

 it will make a good commercial variety. The flowers 

 are a golden yellow and produced freely. I have seen 

 it stated somewhere that, unlike its parent, the King 

 of Autumn, it never produces single flowers. I had 

 twelve plants, all propagated from one tuber, and one 

 plant produced nothing but single flowers. The others 

 produced perfect flowers right to the end of the 

 season. The sporting habit in the dahlia is indeed 

 very puzzling. 



Mr.'!. G. Elkins, Jr. This new variety, introduced 

 by H. F. Michell is one of great merit. The flowers 

 are large, on good stems, though they are somewhat 

 inclined to hang their heads, not enough however, to 

 call the plants weak necked. In color, it rather re- 

 sembles U. .S. A. but it is much better with me than 

 the above, as it never becomes pjeony. until about the 

 last of the season, when they all more or less show 

 tipen centers. 



I have had many other novelties on trial, but these 

 are the best of the new ones, as they showed up with me 

 during the past season. 



Mrs. I. dc /"(■/• II anirr 



flower of large size and great depth, on long stems. 

 There is absolutely no weakness about its neck, in 

 fact, it is without' a fault, and one of the grandest 

 dahlias I have ever seen. This and Mrs. I. de Ver 

 Warner, I prophecy, will be in the forefront of many 

 years. 



Mephistophcles. Hybrid decorative. .\ variety_ I 

 have always admired in Judge Marean's collection 

 and I was very eager to get it. It seems to be of a 

 different type from the ordinary run of varieties ; the 

 plant does not branch so much, very few lateral 

 branches being formed. The flowers are borne on 

 very stiff stems and are placed right on top of the 

 stem. The flowers are large, well formed, and of a 

 beautiful shade of ruby. I have had many flowers 

 over ten inches in diameter from very late planted 

 plants. 



Mable B. Taft. Decorative, a new yellow from 

 California that has all the ear marks of a good one. 

 Unfortunatelv. this variety was not in flower \\ith 



THE PRETTIEST CHRISTMAS WREATH 



(Ri-gi>ia!d Stevens Kimball) 



Wreaths of Laurel wound with Holly, 



Wreaths that hold the Mistletoe, 

 Wreaths bespeaking season jolly 



Wreaths that hope and good cheer show. 



Wreaths with bright Poinsettias merry, 

 Wreaths bedecked with ribbons gay. 



Wreaths that hold the dark red berry. 

 Wreaths entwined with leaves of Bay. 



Best of Christmas decorations, 



Telling of our joy complete. 

 Symbol once of heathen nations 



For their victors in the meet. 



Tlien for winners only telling 



Of their prowess in the game ; 

 Now for all a message spelling 



That for all remain the same. 



^\'reaths the Christmas gladness sharing 

 .\t this season have their place. 



Therefore let us each be wearing 

 Wreaths of smiles upon his face. 



—Newport HcrM, Dec. 2S. 1920. 



