282 Additional Remai'ks 



The liberal award of prizes by these societies has produced most 

 beneficial influences. Such will be — or, at least, so we hope — 

 the result of similar exhibitions of the dahlia in this country. 

 Every city in the Union should establish a horticultural society, 

 and we doubt not that in many of the smaller towns, individuals 

 who feel interested will combine and form themselves into asso- 

 ciations for the purpose of encouraging the spread of a taste for 

 floriculture, first beginning with the exhibition of the dahlia. 



The dahlia has but just begun to be known and appreciated in 

 the interior. In and around our principal cities they are exten- 

 sively grown, and many of the most beautiful and rare varieties 

 are found in our gardens, the same season that they are sold out 

 for the first time in England. But the common and old sorts, 

 which can be procured at reasonable rates, are yet only known in 

 the country towns, — what is now called a first-rate show flower 

 being rarely found beyond the precincts of the principal cities. 

 The annual introduction, however, of all the new ones, will 

 speedily drive from cultivation those of inferior beauty. 



With such an interest excited for the dahlia, we have thought 

 that some additional observations would not be inappropriate at 

 this time. It is better that a good taste should be diffused at 

 the outset, rather than a bad one, which will require much cor- 

 rection; and the only method of doing this is to make known 

 what the real properties of a dahlia are, by what standard they 

 are judged, that a mere double flower shall not be set up as a 

 specimen of a fine bloom. 



Our own ideas of perfection may vary from those of other 

 growers; but as our views coincide with those of the best Eng- 

 lish cultivators, we will venture to advance them for the benefit 

 of all who may feel desirous to profit by our remarks. We 

 shall be as brief as possible, and shall in course notice the opin- 

 ions and practices of the most celebrated English growers. 



Those old dahlias, the Countess of Liverpool, the King of 

 the Whites, Barrett's Susannah, Dennissii, &c. have long been 

 cultivated in England, (and in this country,) the former at least 

 for twelve or fifteen years, and yet finds a place in the most se- 

 lect catalogues. Thousands of seedlings, which have been raised 

 since either of the above have been known, have had their day, 

 and been thrown out as entirely worthless. These were con- 

 sidered the standard of beauty for a time, until the Springfield 

 Rival made its appearance. This was the greatest advancement 

 towards perfection that had yet been made; and even at this pe- 

 riod, the best new seedlings out are described as Springfield Ri- 

 val form. Of the immense number which has been produced 

 since, few flowers hold a place in the catalogues. There are 

 faults in this flower, as will be noticed, and, until the present sea- 

 son, there have been but slight improvements upon its character. 



