POMPON CACTUS 33 



they are required. If blooms are wanted for competitive 

 purposes, then make selections of varieties from the winning 

 stands at the exhibitions ; but when Dahlias for garden de- 

 coration are required, take care to visit gardens and 

 nurseries where these flowers are largely grown, and make 

 note of varieties that are compact in growth and that carry 

 their blooms well above the leaves. 



Raisers of cactus Dahlias are at last devoting attention to 

 the production of varieties especially adapted to garden 

 decoration, and they have already introduced a considerable 

 number that possess much merit. The attributes of a good 

 cactus Dahlia for the garden are a moderately vigorous 

 growth, a compact habit, and well-formed, attractively- 

 coloured flowers borne on stems of sufficient length and 

 rigidity to carry them well above the leaves, that they may 

 be readily seen and produce the best effect. The best size 

 for the flower of a garden cactus Dahlia is a matter of taste, 

 but those rather above medium size are in some respects 

 preferable, because of their being for the most part pro- 

 portionate to the strength of the stems. 



Only a decade or so ago varieties of moderate height 

 and bearing comparatively small flowers began to make 

 their appearance in the seed beds of raisers engaged in 

 the improvement of the cactus Dahlia. The best of these 

 have from time to time been selected with a view to fix- 

 ing these characteristics, and the number in commerce is 

 considerable. They are known as " pompon cactus " (see 

 Plate IV), and form a group that is useful for garden 

 decoration, and even more valuable for the supply of 

 flowers for floral arrangements. The blooms are similar in 

 form and colour to those belonging to the ordinary varieties 



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