DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF FLOWERS. 185 



model or show-flower. But since the Lilliputian Dahlias 

 have been cultivated, the precedence has been given to 

 them by amateurs of good taste. The flowers vary in 

 size from two to two and one-half inches in diameter, and 

 some not much larger than a silver dollar. They are not 

 too large for a bouquet of moderate size, while the old va- 

 rieties are too ungainly for any, except for giant bouquets 

 for tables in large halls. The flowers are compact and 

 neat, sporting into the same variety of colors as in the 

 large sorts. It is impossible to give a list of the most ap- 

 proved varieties of this present time, in either class of 

 Dahlias, that would be likely to give satisfaction a few 

 years hence. Some of the fine new sorts soon run out. 

 The nursery-men, who raise their stock of plants by cut- 

 tings, take off a succession of sprouts, the last growth of 

 which is slender and weak; and the -plants inherit the 

 feebleness of the cuttings, and soon deteriorate, fail, and 

 are heard of no more. 



Dahlias raised from, Seed and the estimated value of 

 fine seedlings in 1836. The following extract of a letter 

 from Mr. Widnall, of England, (in January 1836), a 

 celebrated cultivator of seedling Dahlias, whose object 

 was to obtain fine varieties for sale, will be of some inter- 

 est to Dahlia fanciers of the present time ; showing the 

 extent of the mania for this flower at that period, which 

 may be termed the high-tide season of its popularity. 



After describing various fine new seedlings, he says : 

 " These are the very best seedlings, out of 30,000 plants, 

 which covered more than three acres of ground, and I 

 have about the same quantity of this year's seedlings, 

 none of which will be sent out before May, 1836. These 

 seedlings, which I now offer to you, obtained prizes at 

 every exhibitfon they have been shown at. I obtained in 

 ten days last September for seedlings and named flowers, 

 prizes to the amount of 107 (1535)." 



