RESTORATION TO FAVOUR 15 



under a cloud that gave rise to considerable apprehensions 

 with regard to its future in the minds of those who held the 

 flower in high estimation. Towards the end of this decade 

 the cloud was lifted by the resuscitation of the brilliantly- 

 coloured Dahlia coccinea, which nearly seventy years 

 previously had flowered in Eraser's nursery, and two other 

 single varieties, one known as Lutea, and having bright 

 yellow flowers, and the other as Paragon with maroon- 

 purple flowers margined with rose. These created much 

 interest, and as the result of the well-directed efforts of 

 raisers large numbers of beautiful single varieties were 

 distributed to cultivators. 



Of still greater importance in relation to the restoration 

 of the Dahlia in popular favour was the introduction of 

 Dahlia Yuarezii, the first of the cactus Dahlias now so 

 highly esteemed by flower lovers. This created much 

 interest when first presented to public notice at one of the 

 meetings of the Royal Horticultural Society held in the 

 autumn of 1876, by the late Mr. W. H. Cullingford. This 

 Dahlia was received in the year 1872 by M. J. T. Van der 

 Berg of Juxphaar near Utrecht from a friend in Mexico. 

 The case in which it was sent to Holland contained various 

 kinds of bulbs, flower-roots, and seeds, and owing to the 

 length of time it was on the journey the contents were 

 received in an indifferent condition. The roots that were 

 not wholly decayed were taken care of, and from a small 

 tuber a growth was produced. Several plants were raised, 

 and during the following summer they were grown with 

 the other Dahlias in the open ground. When they came 

 into flower the distinct and elegant form and the brilliant 

 colour of the blooms at once attracted attention ; and 



