32 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



cedure on which they entered they achieved much success. 

 They remodelled the blooms on lines that rendered them 

 more graceful and effective than were those of the type, 

 they greatly increased their size, and developed a range of 

 colouring so wide as to extend from pure white to brilliant 

 scarlet and the richest shades of crimson, purple, rose, and 

 yellow. The success that has been achieved in the develop- 

 ment of the individual bloom during the progress of im- 

 provement is evident at the autumn shows, and the glorious 

 displays of highly refined cactus flowers in their rich and 

 diversified colours have done much to sustain the interest 

 in the Dahlia, and have contributed materially to the popu- 

 larity of the September exhibitions. 



Recognising the delightful effects produced at the autumn 

 exhibitions by the splendidly developed blooms of the cactus 

 Dahlias, it is not difficult to imagine how immensely 

 would the flower garden have gained had a race of cactus 

 varieties suitable for garden decoration been cultivated con- 

 currently with the development of varieties remarkable for 

 the large size and fine form of the individual blooms. But 

 the blooms were considered of such paramount importance 

 that but little consideration was given for many years by 

 owners of gardens to the habits of varieties or their capaci- 

 ties for flower production. When Dahlias are required for 

 contributing to the attractions of the garden the character- 

 istics of the plants should have the first consideration. In 

 the selection of Dahlias, as of roses and some other classes 

 of flowers, it is essential to differentiate between the varieties 

 specially adapted for exhibition and those most suitable for 

 the production of colour effects in the garden, and to select 

 varieties that are the best adapted for the purpose for which 



