THE DAHLIA 335 



should obviously be pronounced with the broad a, 

 is universally pronounced with the long a in 

 England and with the short a in America, each 

 branch of the Anglo-Saxon race seemingly try- 

 ing to get as far away as possible, in different 

 directions, from the natural pronunciation sug- 

 gested by the derivation of the name, and its 

 spelling if indeed the spelling of a word in our 

 language can be said to have any particular asso- 

 ciation with pronunciation. 



EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF THE DAHLIA 



All that, however, is of no great importance. 

 A dahlia by any other name or pronunciation 

 would be equally attractive. What is important 

 is that this flower, brought from its subtropical 

 home, proved wonderfully adaptable to its new 

 surroundings, and showed a responsiveness to 

 good treatment that presently transformed its 

 general appearance, and gave it secure place in 

 the group of three or four most popular flowers. 



There are several species of dahlia, all natives 

 of Mexico or the regions a little farther south. 

 But the species that is chiefly responsible for the 

 development of the new races, or at any rate 

 those that first gained recognition in Europe, is 

 one that because of its tendency to vary even in a 

 state of nature was named Dahlia varidbilis. 



