DAHLIA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



DAHLIA. 



more recent kinds are far smaller and 

 better. 



Single Dahlias. Annie Hughes, But- 

 terfly, Chihvell Beauty, Conspicua, Duke 

 of York, Duchess of Westminster, Eclipse, 

 Evelyn, Gulielma, Jack, James Scobie, 

 Miss Glasscock, Midget Improved, Mik- 

 ado, Magpie, Nellie Ware, Paragon, 

 Rose Queen, Yellow Boy, Yellow Satin. 



"CACTUS" DAHLIAS. These origin- 

 ated from D. Juarezi, which was 

 introduced from Mexico about 1879, 

 and they retain the characteristic shape 

 of that species, the petals twisted, so to 

 say, and reminding one of those of some 

 of the Cacti. The earlier Cactus Dahlias 

 had one fault hiding the flowers amongst 

 the leaves ; but this is to a large extent 

 changed, so that we have now a beautiful 

 race of garden plants for summer and 

 autumn, with flowers of bold form and 

 charming and varied colours. A new 

 group is formed by the single Cactus 

 kinds. The flowers are quite single, 

 about as large as those of a good single 

 Dahlia of the ordinary type, and with 

 twisted petals. 



Cactus Dahlias. Beauty of Eynsford, 

 Bertha Mawley, Cannell's Own, Countess 

 of Gosford, Countess of Radnor, De- 

 licata, Ernest Cannell, Juarezi, Kentish 

 Invicta, Kynerith, Lady Penzance, Match- 

 less, Mrs. Francis Fell, May Pictor, 

 Professor Baldwin, Robert Cannell. 



TOM THUMB DAHLIAS. This is a very 

 dwarf race, the plants forming little 

 bushes, but they are not satisfactory, as 

 they appear not to bloom with great free- 

 dom, whilst the growth does not retain 

 its true dwarf character. When true, 

 the habit is compact, dense, and the 

 single flowers borne well above the mass 

 of leaves. Fortunately the colours of 

 the flowers are for the most part simple, 

 and raisers should steer clear of the 

 ugly striped kinds. Dwarfing any flower 

 naturally tall and graceful is a doubtful 

 practice. 



BEDDING DAHLIAS. This is the name 

 given to a small list of dwarf varieties, 

 which are used for massing, blooming 

 profusely. One kind named Rising Sun 

 has the flowers brilliant scarlet, and used 

 with good effect in the London parks. 



SPECIES. Amongst these we may note 

 the following : 



D. coccinea, .a tall plant with bright- 

 scarlet flowers that rarely vary. Nearly 

 related to it, and differing only in some 

 slight points, is D. Cervantesi, also with 

 showy scarlet flowers. 



D. glabrata is a beautiful plant of 

 dwarf spreading growth, more slender 



than any of the other species. The 

 flowers are smaller than those of other 

 kinds, and vary from pure white to deep 

 purple. It is hardier than any other 

 Dahlia, and plants left in the ground 

 are generally uninjured throughout the 

 winter. Its dwarf growth adapts it for 

 positions unsuitable for the latter kinds, 

 and it has a good effect in masses, its 

 colour being unlike that of any other 

 Dahlia. It is known also as D. Mercki, 

 repens, and Decaisneana. 



D. gracilis is a distinct and graceful 

 plant, with slender stems and finely 

 divided foliage, which gives it a freer 

 habit than any other Dahlia. The 

 bright-scarlet flowers are of the ordinary 

 size. 



D. imperialis has large and graceful 

 much-divided leaves, and flowers of a 

 beautiful French white, thrown up in 

 a great cone-like mass. It rarely flowers 

 in the open air, but it is of service both 

 in the flower garden and conservatory. 

 Planted in rich soil, and placed in a 

 warm, sheltered position in the open air 

 at the end of May, it grows well in 

 summer, and its large and graceful leaves 

 make it an ornament worthy of being 

 used as a " fine-foliaged " plant. Similar 

 to this, but not so fine, is D. Maxi- 

 miliana. 



D. Juarezi is now well known. It is 

 the more desirable because of its easy 

 culture, as it requires no different treat- 

 ment from ordinary Dahlias. It is not 

 quite double, but is very fine in form and 

 brilliant in colour, though it flowers some- 

 what sparsely. 



D. variabilis is the supposed parent of 

 all the garden varieties. The wild plant 

 has scarlet flowers like coccinea, and is 

 of similar growth. A packet of seed, 

 however, will yield plants with flowers 

 of all shades, from crimson to white and 

 yellow. 



CULTURE. To get a good result it is 

 essential to have rich, deep, and moist 

 soil, and to put out strong plants as early 

 as may be safe, so as to secure a good 

 growth or autumn bloom. Where weak 

 plants are put a little too late they may 

 only give a few poor blooms before the 

 frost comes. If planted in May and 

 frost is feared, protect the young plants 

 at night by turning a garden pot over 

 them. If the soil is not deep, rich, and 

 moist, manure-water should be used. 

 Watering is usually necessary in early 

 growth, afterwards it is not so in moist 

 districts where the plant is well treated 

 as regards depth and quality of soil. In 

 dry places water is essential in most 



