50 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



section in the garden thereby enhanced. Unfortunately the 

 raisers appear to have taken too narrow a view of the possi- 

 bilities of the bloom in relation to form, and modelled it on 

 the same lines as the show Dahlia. They have succeeded 

 in raising varieties with blooms of exquisite shape, but too 

 formal to be readily accepted by the great flower-loving 

 public as suitable for floral arrangements. The lines 

 originally laid down have been followed until the present 

 time, and as a consequence the flowers possess a degree 

 of refinement beyond which it does not appear possible 

 to go, as may be seen in the charming variety Florence. 

 The success achieved in the development of the pompon 

 Dahlia in accordance with the florist's ideal, has been little 

 short of marvellous ; but in testifying to the perseverance 

 and skill evinced in the attainment of the ideal, it is not 

 difficult to realise how valuable would have been a race of 

 varieties bearing blooms of a type similar to those of the 

 variety known as White Aster, which is so much appreci- 

 ated for floral arrangements. We may yet have such 

 flowers in a diversity of colouring, for raisers and growers 

 are no longer content to blindly follow the traditions of 

 past generations. 



It has already been intimated that the pompon Dahlias 

 are highly meritorious as aids in beautifying the flower 

 garden during a considerable period in each year, and it 

 now remains to be said that they should be fully utilised. 

 They range in height from 2^ to 3^ feet, but in soil that 

 has not been too liberally enriched with manure the 

 majority of the varieties grow to a height of three feet, form 

 neat bushes, and produce a profusion of flowers extending 

 over a period of eight or ten weeks, according to the 



