DAHLIA 



1687 



DAHOMEY 



ferior to the later "tintype," both being 

 printed on thin copper plates (see PHOTOG- 

 RAPHY) . 



Louis Jacques Mande Daguerre (1789-1851), a 

 French artist and scene painter, famous as the 

 inventor of the original photographic process 

 described above. Although he has received all 

 the credit of the invention, it is known that 

 he had long corresponded with other French- 

 men who were conducting researches along 

 the same lines; one who was approaching suc- 

 cess died before his discovery could be an- 

 nounced. In recognition of his work Daguerre 

 was made an officer of the Legion of Honor 

 and was given a pension of 6,000 francs by the 

 French government. 



DAHLIA, dahl' ya, or dale' y a, a hardy plant 

 of the composite family, at one time considered 

 coarse and common, but of late appearing in 

 such improved varieties that its wonderful 

 development attracts almost as much attention 

 as the chrysan- 

 themum. It was 

 named after the 

 Swedish botanist, 

 Dahl. Though a 

 native of Mexico, 

 the dahlia is now 

 extensively culti- 

 vated in the 

 United States, 

 Southern Can- 

 ada and Europe. ; 

 Originally a 

 flower with eight 

 red rays about a 

 yellow center 



very stiff and for- DAHLIAS 



mal, the dahlia is now produced in almost 

 every imaginable color, some compact and 

 ball-shaped, others with long, flat petals; and 

 the most interesting and beautiful, the cactus 

 dahlias, have double blossoms with long, 

 twisted petals. 



Dahlias planted in May in rich soil will 

 come to blossom in July. They must have 

 plenty of water, a bucket a day for each plant 

 being necessary if the season is dry. The 

 water should be poured about the main stalk, 

 not over the soil surrounding the plant. In 

 case the soil is only moderately fertile it 

 should have an application of fertilizer in the 

 middle of the summer. As the stalks of these 

 plants are very brittle, they should be tied to 

 strong stakes; otherwise, a hard wind or a 

 violent downpour of rain may break them. 



If the stakes are painted green they will tone 

 attractively with the foliage. See COMPOSITE 

 FAMILY. 



DAHOMEY, dahho'may, or dahhomay', a 

 French colony in West Africa, formerly an 

 independent kingdom ruled by a monarch 

 whose power was absolute. The French ob- 

 tained possession of it in 1892, during the period 

 in which the European powers were dividing 

 Africa among them; the army captured 

 Abomey, at that time the capital, deposed the 

 king and proclaimed a French protectorate. 

 Population, estimated at over 1,000,000. 



It- covers an area of about 60,000 square 

 miles and is therefore a little larger than the 

 state of Florida. The climate is hot and un- 

 healthful for Europeans, as it is only from 7 

 to 10 north of the equator, and the average 

 temperature is 

 over 80 F. For 

 about fifty miles 

 from, the coast 

 the land is flat 

 and swampy. It 

 then gradually 

 rises to a plateau 

 about 1,600 feet 

 above sea level. 

 The soil is fertile 

 and good crops 

 of manioc, yams LOCATION OF DAHOMEY 

 and cotton are raised. Horses and cattle 

 thrive in the more elevated districts. The chief 

 source of revenue is in the palm, which pro- 

 duces great quantities of palm oil and kernels. 

 Dried fish also forms an important article of 

 commerce, great quantities being exported 

 through the British port of Lagos. The for- 

 ests contain the baobab, tamarind, fig and other 

 fruit trees. Lions are found in some parts 

 and the elephant and hippopotamus have not 

 yet disappeared. 



Kotonu and Whydah are the chief ports, other 

 important towns being Abomey, Grand Popo, 

 Agoue, Allada and Porto Novo, now the capi- 

 tal. The colony is administered by a lieuten- 

 ant-governor, assisted by a council. The in- 

 habitants are pagans of negro stock. They 

 worship fetishes, and human sacrifices, for- 

 merly common, are still offered in isolated dis- 

 tricts beyond the direct influence of the ruling 

 whites. Early in the nineteenth century 

 Dahomey was an important power in Africa, 

 and it conquered many neighboring tribes with 

 the help of its army of Amazons, female war- 

 riors noted for their bravery. 



