530 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



throwing their charming flowers well 

 above the leaves. 



Potnpon Dahlias. — Admiration, Arthur 

 West, Countess von Sternberg, Coquette, 

 Crimson Beauty, Cupid, Darkness, Dove, 

 E. F. Jungker, Eurydice, Eva, Fairy 

 Tales, Gem, German Favourite, Glow- 

 worm, Golden Gem, Hedwig Poll wig, 

 Juno, Lilian, Little Bobby, Little Ethel, 

 Marion, Midget, Pure Love, Tommy 

 Keith, Vivid, White Aster. 



Single Dahlias.— D. coccinea (D. 

 Mercki), D. variabilis, and others formed 

 the foundation, so to say, of this group. 

 The value of Single Dahlias as beautiful 

 garden flowers was not considered until 

 a reaction set in against the show blooms, 

 and then the elegant single kinds became 

 popular. It is so easy to cross them and 

 raise seedlings that the earlier varieties 

 were quickly improved upon in colour 

 and habit of growth, until we have now 

 a delightful group of garden plants, free, 

 and making a continuous display through 

 the late summer and early autumn 

 months. In the best kinds the flowers 

 are carried erect above the foliage, the 

 growth bushy, and the flowers abundant. 

 No summer flower gives a greater variety 

 of brilliant colours, rich selfs and delicate 

 hues of mauve and rose to pure white. 

 With all this choice, one, unfortunately, 

 sees much of the striped kinds, too often 

 praised, for the reason perhaps that they 

 are well shown at some exhibition, but a 

 new Dahlia should be seen in the garden 

 to judge of its merits. The striped kinds 

 are also sportive, like striped Carnations, 

 and depend in a large measure for their 

 peculiar colour upon the weather. This 

 class must not be confounded with those 

 that have flowers boldly margined with 

 colour. As the round-flowered form of 

 Single Dahlia is declining in popularity 

 one sees less of the big saucer-shaped 

 blooms, so large that it was necessary to 

 support them when gathered. These 

 flabby varieties won few friends, and the 

 more recent kinds are far smaller and 

 better. 



Sitigle Dahlias. — Annie Hughes, But- 

 terfly, Chilwell Beauty, Conspicua, Duke 

 of York, Duchess of Westminster, Eclipse, 

 Evelyn, Gulielma, Jack, James Scobie, 

 Miss Glasscock, Midget Improved, Mik- 

 ado, Magpie, Nellie Ware, Paragon, 

 Rose Queen, Yellow Boy, Yellow Satin. 



"Cactus" Dahlias. — These origin- 

 ated from D. Juarezi, which was 

 introduced from Mexico about 1879, 

 and they retain the characteristic shape 

 of that species, the petals twisted, so to 

 say, and reminding one of those of some 



of the Cacti. The earlier Cactus Dahlias 

 had one fault — hiding the flowers amongst 

 the leaves ; but this is to a large extent 

 changed, so that we have now a beautiful 

 race of garden plants for summer and 

 autumn, with flowers of bold form and 

 charming and varied colours. A new 

 group is formed by the single Cactus 

 kinds. The flowers are quite single, 

 about as large as those of a good single 

 Dahlia of the ordinary type, and with 

 twisted petals. 



Caches Dahlias. — Beauty of Eynsford, 

 Bertha Mawley, Cannell's Own, Countess 

 of Gosford, Countess of Radnor, De- 

 licata, Ernest Cannell, Juarezi, Kentish 

 Invicta, Kynerith, Lady Penzance, Match- 

 less, Mrs. Francis Fell, May Pictor, 

 Professor Baldwin, Robert Cannell. 



Tom Thumb Dahlias.— This is a very 

 dwarf race, the plants forming little 

 bushes, but they are not satisfactory, as 

 they appear not to bloom with great free- 

 dom, whilst the growth does not retain 

 its true dwarf character. When true, 

 the habit is compact, dense, and the 

 single flowers borne well above the mass 

 of leaves. Fortunately the colours of 

 the flowers are for the most part simple, 

 and raisers should steer clear of the 

 ugly striped kinds. Dwarfing any flower 

 naturally tall and graceful is a doubtful 

 practice. 



Bedding Dahlias.— This is the name 

 given to a small list of dwarf varieties, 

 which are used for massing, blooming 

 profusely. One kind named Rising Sun 

 has the flowers brilliant scarlet, and used 

 with good effect in the London parks. 



Species.— Amongst these we may note 

 the following : — 



D. coccinea, a tall plant with bright- 

 scarlet flowers that rarely vary. Nearly 

 related to it, and differing only in some 

 slight points, is D. Cervantesi, also with 

 showy scarlet flowers. 



D. glabrata is a beautiful plant of 

 dwarf spreading growth, more slender 

 than any of the other species. The 

 flowers are smaller than those of other 

 kinds, and vary from pure white to deep 

 purple. It is hardier than any other 

 Dahlia, and plants left in the ground 

 are generally uninjured throughout the 

 winter. Its dwarf growth adapts it for 

 positions unsuitable for the latter kinds, 

 and it has a good eff"ect in masses, its 

 colour being unlike that of any other 

 Dahlia. It is known also as D. Mercki, 

 rc])cns, and Decaisneana. 



D. gracilis is a distinct and graceful 

 plant, with slender stems and finely 

 divided foliage, which gives it a freer 



