DAHLIA, 79 
warded to the gardener at St. Cloud all the three varie- 
ties which were then known, namely, D. coccinea, 
D. purpurea and D. crocata. These produced seeds, 
which were sown, but, notwithstanding all the attempts 
which were made year after year, they still remained 
single. In Belgium, however, they were more success- 
ful; for we learn that in 1812, M. Donkelaar, botanic 
gardener at Louvain, having sown a quantity of seeds, 
raised plants which the first year produced all single 
flowers. Disappointed, but not discouraged, he from 
these saved a second quantity, which, in their turn, pro- 
duced semi-double flowers; and, emboldened with the 
success which attained this second essay, he, from the 
best of these semi-double flowers, produced a further 
supply of seed, the produce of which, in the following 
year, presented him with three plants which bore flowers 
perfectly double. These were, therefore, the first really 
double flowers ever produced. After this there were 
many varieties raised, of all shades and depths of color, 
and from this time the Dahlia began to attract for itself 
a measure of interest, which has gone on increasing, and 
which, even at the present day, seems to be as great and 
unabating as if it were a plant of the most recent intro- 
duction, aud which was still a novelty in the midst of us.” 
The popularity of the Dahlia, at that period, was 
quite as great in this country as in Europe. Exhibitions 
of this flower alone were held in the principal cities, and 
every encouragement was given to the production of new 
varieties. From that time, until within the past few 
years, when the single forms were again introduced, its 
popularity waned, while the enthusiasm for the single 
forms knew no bounds. Again the double forms are 
attracting as much attention as they did thirty years ago ; 
new varieties are being brought out, and the older ones 
reinstated to their former position in the garden. 
For garden display, we have no flower that can be 
so successfully and satisfactorily grown as the Dahlia. 
