on the Dahlia. 285 



In connection with form may be noticed the shape of the petal. 

 To be perfect, they should be quite round, free from all notches, 

 broad in proportion to their length, and not quilled or cupped so 

 much as to show the back of the petals. A flower may be beau- 

 tiful though the petals may be flat, cupped or reflexed; but those 

 which are slightly cupped must be those which approach nearest 

 to perfection. Those flowers with petals so concave as to ap- 

 pear quilled, though sometimes admitted, are highly objectiona- 

 ble, and in our opinion should be disqualified as shoio flowers, 

 however so beautiful they may be as garden varieties. One of 

 this class, (and by which we shall be better understood,) is 

 Mackenzie's Contender, in other properties a pretty kind. 

 Conqueror of Europe, Dodds's Mary, &c., are specimens of 

 new varieties wiih good shaped petals. 



We have, then, what we shall consider as perfection in form. 

 Next comes color. Whatever the color of a bloom may be, if 

 a self, (so called,) it should be clear, bright and fresh, without 

 any spots or blemishes, or dusty appearance. If the colors are 

 striped, edged or mottled, they should be bold, striking and dis- 

 tinct. Two thirds of the dahlias described as edged are nothing 

 but dingy white flowers, with irregular blotches of color, ex- 

 tending, in some kinds, from the edge of the petals nearly to the 

 centre; in others, stripes and tints of color are disposed over 

 the surface of the petals, without any distinctness. Such should 

 not be esteemed of any value. As specimens of the difl^erent 

 classes of bicolored, we may note, of the kinds we have yet 

 seen, the Picta formosissima as the best stripe — Widnall's Rain- 

 bow, (when good,) the best shaded — Levick's Incomparable, 

 the best tipped — Mary Queen of Scots, (Dodds's,) the best 

 tinted — and the King of dahlias the best edged, (though a poor 

 flower in other respects.) It is difficult to say what is the best 

 white; but of the kinds well known. Exemplar appears to com- 

 bine the most good properties, though the white is not as pure 

 as the old King of the whites. 



Lastly comes size — a property which some individuals seem 

 to look upon as more important than form or color — or both to- 

 gether. Large and small flowers are both objectionable. The 

 former are generally flat and ill formed — the latter have a tame- 

 ness which detracts altogether from their magnificence. A me- 

 dium size is that which approaches the nearest to perfection. 

 Size is however of little importance — but a flower, under, rather 

 than above the medium, if good in other properties, is in our 

 opinion preferable. Large flowers appear beautiful to those who 

 only appreciate a dahlia from its quantity and not quality: there 

 is a coarseness about the very best that we have ever seen, 

 which would disqualify them as show flowers. Negro Boy and 

 Wilmot's superb are two specimens, the latter of which is oc- 



