THE DAHLIA 345 



be expected, a certain number of these were 

 found. 



By repeated selection, always searching for 

 the most fragrant flowers, and carefully saving 

 their seed, a race of dahlias was developed many 

 of which had a very agreeable perfume. Rather 

 I should say that there were several races, for 

 the quality of fragrance was associated some- 

 times with one set of characteristics of size and 

 form and color, and sometimes with another. 



Selection being made in this case for fra- 

 grance alone, as was absolutely necessary in order 

 to intensify this evasive quality, it was necessary 

 mostly to ignore the other qualities, and, as usual 

 in such cases, it resulted that the new fragrant 

 races of dahlias, while having perfume that 

 recommended them, were somewhat lacking in 

 the other qualities. The great popularity of 

 the flower has led to such perfectionment of its 

 various characteristics in recent years that the 

 standard of competition is very high, and it 

 would be useless to introduce a new variety 

 that did not measure up in all regards to the 

 existing varieties. 



So up to the present time the fragrant dahlias 

 have not been introduced, except three or four, 

 which were purchased by Vaughan of Chicago. 

 Further experiments in selective breeding will 



