THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



455 



In the October issue of the Chronicle we naturally 

 look for some comments on Dahlias. This having been 

 a first class summer for Dahlia culture many more 

 people have determined to grow them another season. 

 Truly it is one of the great flowers of all time, and 

 although it may- at times go under a cloud for a period 

 that can never last long. With the establishment of 

 the American Dahlia Society- and the holding of shows 

 by this body, as well as by the now numerous other 

 societies that make a feature of Dahlias, the time has 

 arrived when an authoritative promulgation on the 

 classification of the flowers should be made. In addi- 

 tion, the .\. D. S. ought to publish lists of what are 

 generally regarded as the best varieties, this to be in 

 addition to, or apart from, anv election that any of the 

 fluricultural papers might attempt. There is always 

 a lot of fun in trying to name what one believes to be 

 the best twelve or twenty kinds of any of the more 

 pO])ular flowers. Here is my vote for the best six 

 Dahlias for general use: 



Most likely, however, by another year we shall have 

 more reliable lists than these, although, after all, 

 Dahlias differ on dift'erent soils and in different locali- 



D..\HLI.\, -\IK^. AMKI-; 



I. ])LPOXT. 



Delice, Jack Rose, .Souv. de Gustave Douzan, Minnie 

 McCullough, Hortulanus Fiet, Princess Juliana. 



The only one I have any qualms about in the fore- 

 going is Douzan. It is a big, coarse Dahlia as a rule, 

 but it is one that is very widely grown, is showy and 

 vigorous, and a good, large flowered scarlet. To ex- 

 tend this to twelve let us add the following six : 



Geisha, Perle de Lyon, Etandard de Lyon, Mrs. A, I. 

 du Pont, Sebastopal, Ethel Maule. 



My- own particular fancy- leans much tci the show 

 and decorative kinds ; the cactus ones are also de- 

 sirable and good for a variety of uses including cutting 

 and garden decoration. Among other fine Dahlias not 

 already mentioned are these : 



Arabella, Dorothy Peacock, Beliot, Ethel Maule, 

 Master Carl, Papa Charmet, Rhinekonig, Queen Mary, 

 Kriemhilde, Orange King, Cuban Giant, Golden Gate, 

 Grand Due .\lexis, Chas. Lanier, Kalif, Dreer's White, 

 J. B. Riding, Snowclad, Hilda Searle, Triom])he de 

 Solferino, Rosalie, Little Beauty, Crimson Beauty. 



If I were choosing si.x cactus Dahlias for exhibition 

 the list would he this : 



H. H. Thomas, Rev. T. \\ . Jameson, Yellow Ham- 

 mer, Mrs. T. G. Baker, Snowdon, H. W. Sillem. 



1).\HLI.\, .\LFRED 1L\XDA. 



ties or sections, so that the best that can be attempted 

 at any time is to name those that do best over the 

 widest territ(.iry and which are oftenest in high con- 

 dition. That has l>een the guide in drawing uj) the 

 loresjoin"". — The Onlooker. 



D.\IILI.\, GERTRUDE M.\\l),\. 



