THEIR ORIGIN 61 



extending over a long time. A few of the varieties take us 

 back sixty or seventy years, while others have been raised 

 and distributed since the commencement of the present 

 century. Some of the varieties in general cultivation had 

 their origin in batches of seedlings raised from seed saved 

 from show Dahlias, and were selected because of their 

 effectiveness in the garden. These were mostly introduced 

 to cultivation soon after the favour shown the cactus 

 Dahlia had made it quite clear that the trend of the public 

 taste was in the direction of a fuller appreciation of Dahlias 

 less formal than the show section which had for so long 

 a period occupied a predominant position. Since the 

 general recognition of decorative Dahlias has encouraged 

 raisers to distribute new varieties they have adopted a 

 systematic method of improving them, and such progress 

 has been made as to justify the anticipation that the section 

 will in due course become of considerable importance. 



The giant decorative varieties which form a distinct and 

 for some purposes useful group are of continental origin, 

 and the earlier varieties were introduced to this country at 

 the close of the nineteenth century. The varieties that 

 produce large flowers with broad, flat florets like those of 

 Souvenir de Gustave Douzon were raised in France, and 

 Grand Due Alexis, with its huge blooms composed of rolled 

 or fluted florets, with one or two others, originated in 

 Germany. They have not attained to a very high degree of 

 popularity ; not one of the varieties has obtained recognition 

 from either of the societies that make awards to novelties, 

 and seldom are blooms seen at the exhibitions of the 

 societies directly associated with Dahlias. Notwithstanding 

 the fact that they have not been regarded with much favour 



