March 4, 1911 



HORTICULTURE 



277 



Cactus Dahlias 



Judging by the attitude of northern summer-resort 

 society toward the dahlia the predominance in popular 

 favor of the cactus class is evident. There is apparently 

 no lack of admiration for the decorative, show, and single 

 varieties. Nevertheless, their import is limited to out- 



Cactos Dahlia Vui.kan 



door effects. The noble grace of the cactus form, aside 

 from its ornamental value in the garden, gives it also su- 

 premacy as a cutflower. In consequence, we see the 

 energy of a majoiity of leading gi-owers directed to the 

 improvement of this class as the foremost commercial 

 dahlia of the future. The standard qualities called for 

 at present consist of low and medium height and strong 

 sturdy growth, requiring a minimum of support; early 

 and free blooming: long erect stems to carry buds well 

 above the foliage ; singular flowers perfect in shape and 

 resistant : medium and large sizes and clear shades and 

 tints preferred. 



How many of our old standard varieties possess all 

 those qualities and if really here and there they do, how 

 about their action under different climatic conditions? 



Ruth Forbes has done splendidly in New England but 

 is reported to behave badly in Pennsylvania and New 

 Jersey. On the trial grounds of the German Dahlia So- 

 ciety in Frank-furt-on-the-ilain last year this same va- 

 riety was the source of general admiration. As another 

 instance I mention Koenigin Luise, the best German 

 pink variety. Here in Maine it comes fully up to what 

 is expected of the ideal commercial type ; in Boston the 

 flowers show open center and in New York and Philadel- 

 phia the same variety is perhaps well-nigh worthless. 

 Without at least a half a dozen trial grounds in different 

 parts of our country, the American grower in most cases 

 faces the necessity of finding out for himself what is best 

 suited and from the commercial viewpoint, profitable for 

 his location. According to my observation New Eng- 

 land, and especially the northern part thereof, can safely 

 accept British and German introductions at their face 

 value. The difference in climatic conditions is so insig- 

 nificant that we may reasonably expect the full develop- 

 ment of the qualities ascribed to a noveltv by its orig- 

 inators. A feature wortli studying is the fact that, in 

 illustrating star-debutantes abroad, the picture of the 



typical plant is frequently given the preference. A cut 

 of the single flower may be more beautiful, but it leavet 

 ns utterly at sea as to habit of growth and carriage of 

 buds. For the northern summer resort early flowering 

 is the paramount issue. We depend entirely on the July 

 and August crops both for cut flower sale and garden 

 effect. By the middle of September the social season is 

 at its end and our market opportunities have vanished. 



Of the new varieties tried last year Mauve Queen, 

 one of the very best English introductions of recent date, 

 proved highly satisfactory. The clear mauve-pink and 

 perfect shape of its large flowers caused much favorable 

 comment. Height four to five feet. Vulkan, recom- 

 mended by German growers as one of the earliest orange 

 scarlets, turned out a marvel in the production of flowers. 

 From July until frost the plants remained literally 

 covered with buds. "Vulkan, if it acts in the middle 

 states as here in the North, represents a true type of an 

 ideal commercial cactus dahlia. In height scarcely ex- 

 ceeding four feet, it is a splendid variety for mass effects 

 and its value as a cut flower cannot be questioned. Not 

 less enthusiasm was created by Wolfgang von Goethe, a 

 very large and free variety of rich apricot-red, with light 

 carmine shadings. The extra large and perfect form of 

 the substantial flowers, borne on long stiff stems drew 

 attention at the first glance. The Goethe dahlia is with- 

 out the least doubt bound to meet with the same public 

 favor in this country as it has abroad. Average height 

 •") feet. In yellow I have tried Goldkind, a medium-sized 

 early and free canary-colored variety of decided merit; 

 and Goldland, a vivid primrose yellow of perfect form. 

 Both, I Ijelieve, will soon be listed among our selected 

 standards. 



The whites were more or less disappointing. This 

 increases the interest for Eheinkoenig, heralded on both 



sides of the Atlantic as the best pure white so far brought 



Cactus Dahlia Mauve Queen 



out. We are in need of a perfect white cactus dahlia,- 

 For this reason let us hope that Mr. Dreer's representa- 

 tive is correct in announcing it to be the most desirable 

 acquisition in dahlias offered in many years. As a rule 

 the German trade paper correspondents are very dis- 



