THE FANCY DAHLIA 21 



Shylock realised ^100 each, and the variety known as the 

 Marchioness of Ormonde 105. The sum of 105 was 

 paid also for a variety named Queen Victoria, but it did not 

 fulfil its promise, and with the disappointment it caused to 

 cultivators an end was put to the high prices paid for new 

 Dahlias. 



The fancy Dahlia was later in making its appearance 

 than the show type, and for a considerable period subse- 

 quent thereto the flowers of the several varieties were much 

 inferior in form and finish to the finest of the show flowers. 

 But few of the fancies are included in the fifty coloured 

 illustrations of the leading Dahlias of the day that were 

 published in the Dahlia Register for 1836 and in the 

 nurserymen's lists, and in the selected lists of varieties that 

 were given the distinctive term of fancy was not used. In 

 the lists of Dahlias that were issued in 1845 one fancy 

 flower Oakley's Surprise had a place, but during the next 

 four years the section had increased considerably, for in one 

 of the lists that was published in 1849 there were twenty- 

 four fancy varieties. Sixteen years later the number of fancy 

 varieties catalogued was forty-one, and of these the greater 

 proportion had been raised in this country. During the 

 past twenty years but few new fancy flowers have been 

 introduced. This section, it should be mentioned, originated 

 on the Continent, and chief among the raisers who rendered 

 good service in the earliest stage of its development was 

 M. Lelieur of Sevres. 



With regard to the characteristics of the show and fancy 

 varieties, of primary importance from the exhibition point of 

 view there is no room for doubt. George Glenny and other 

 authorities some seventy or eighty years ago laid down the 



