44 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



outline, and that conform in all respects to the requirements 

 of the florists. In addition to these, which are by far the 

 most valuable both for the garden and exhibition, there are 

 two other types that are regarded with much favour by 

 some cultivators and are useful for special purposes. The 

 first of these types, known as the Tom Thumb Single, was 

 introduced about 1880 by the late Mr. Girdlestone, who for 

 some years was the Honorary Secretary and subsequently 

 President of the National Dahlia Society. The plants of this 

 type attain a height of about 18 inches, bloom freely, and 

 the flowers afford a wide range of colour. Their chief 

 value is for small beds and for planting along the front of 

 borders. The other type, known as the Single Cactus, is 

 distinguished by the flowers having florets that are twisted 

 and curled in much the same way as those of the cactus 

 Dahlia. This type originated with the late Mr. E. J. Lowe, 

 F.R.S., and was distributed in 1896. The plants are dwarf, 

 compact in growth, and free in blooming, and the flowers 

 in their diversity of colour are specially useful, by reason of 

 their lightness, for floral arrangements. 



With reference to the desirable characteristics of single 

 Dahlias of the ordinary type, it may be pointed out that 

 varieties producing blooms of medium size should invariably 

 be selected. In form the flowers should be circular and 

 even in outline ; the florets perfectly flat and even, neatly 

 and closely fitting or overlapping and slightly recurved, and 

 the flower stems should be stiff and erect. Flowers of this 

 type are not only more refined and pleasing, but they retain 

 their freshness for a greater length of time than do those in 

 which the florets are widely separated. 



Single Dahlias are highly effective in the garden when 



