CHAPTER IV 

 CACTUS DAHLIAS 



AT the very time of the revival of the single Dahlias as 

 subjects of popular interest there made its appearance in 

 the floral world a new type which has become known as 

 the cactus Dahlia. Its introduction proved an event of 

 much importance, for as the precursor of large numbers 

 of distinct and beautiful varieties it has contributed in no 

 small degree to the revival of the interest in Dahlias both in 

 relation to their value for exhibition and usefulness in the 

 garden. Not less interesting is the fact that the descendants 

 of Dahlia Yuarezii, the type of the cactus Dahlia, have 

 effected a change in the views of raisers and growers on 

 the points of perfection in Dahlias that is little short of 

 marvellous. At first this epoch-making Dahlia was not 

 accepted with favour by those florists who had for a long 

 series of years devoted much of their time to the develop- 

 ment of the blooms of the Dahlia on more or less formal 

 lines. That they should have looked somewhat askance 

 at the new comer is not surprising, for its flowers varied 

 materially from the ideals for which raisers had long been 

 working. Except in brilliancy of colouring the blooms did 

 not possess one of the points that had long been regarded 



as essential properties of a show Dahlia, They were of 



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