DAHLIA 



A. Plants not very divarf. 

 B. Fls. single, 

 c. Bays Hat, not recurved at the margins. 

 1. The Single Type. Fig. 660. 



cc. Rays with recurred margins. 



i. The Single Cactus Type. Fig. 661. 



BE. Fts. double. 



C. Size of fls. small, 1-2 in. across. 



D. Says cupped. 



3. The Pompon Type. Fig. 662. Also called "Bouquet" 



and "Lilliputian." 



DD. Says flat. 



4. The Pompon Cactus Type. 



cc. Sise of fls. large, 3-5 in. across, averaging 4 in. 



D. Says cupped. 



E. Colors single, or the edges darker than the ground 



color. 



5. The Show Type. Fig. 663. 



EE. Colors 2 or more, striped, or with edges lighter 

 than the ground color. 



6. The Fancy Type. 



DD. Says not cupped, but long and flat, or with re- 

 curved margins. 



7. The Cactus Type. Figs. 665, 66G. 



DDD. Says various in form. 

 S. The Cactus Hybrid Types. Also called "Decora- 

 tive" Dahlias. 



AA. Flants very dwarf. 

 S. The Tom Thumb Types. 



Societies and Shows.— The Dahlia is one of about a 

 dozen genera of plants whose horticultural value has 

 been attested by permanently successful special socie- 

 ties. There are national Dahlia societies in England and 

 America. Dahlia shows are usually held the second or 

 third week of September. With the growing interest in 

 nature-study, attempts are being made to make a per- 

 manent institution of local fall flower shows, which 

 siiall come at a sufficient interval before the Chrysan- 

 themum shows, and in which the children may exhibit 

 their own products. The Dahlia and China .Aster are 

 especially suited for such shows. 



Garden Evolution of Dahlias.— In the evolution 

 of Dahlias in general, some of the great changes are 

 as follows: (1) The growing season has been greatly 

 shortened and the flowering season lengthened. In 

 these and in all other particulars Dahlias were wonder- 

 fully variable even in the first decade of their European 

 culture, but in general they bloomed for only a few days 

 before frost. Nowadays, the Dahlia season is in full 

 force a month and a half or two months before frost 

 with a good show of blooms in favored localities for In- 

 dependence Day; and June 15th is a record of extreme 

 earliness forWm. Agnew, after six weeks' growth from 

 tubers planted out of doors. (2) The colors of the flow- 

 ers have been greatly improved, as even the most senti- 

 mental objector to the idea of "improvement" in flow- 

 ers would have to acknowledge if confronted with wild 

 and cultivated plants. The number of colors has been 

 greatly increased and the vividness of the colors inten- 

 sified. Most people can distinguish and enjoy from 12 

 to 30 colors, and these colors have occurred in each type 

 and been carefully saved, purified and strengthened. 

 Dull and intermediate shades tend to drop out. (3) Im- 

 mense numbers of variegated forms are produced. 

 Broadly speaking, variegation is perhaps later to appear 

 than pure colors, and is conserved by a formality-loving 

 class. It is said that the Fancy Dahlia originated later 

 than the Show Dahlia, and was for many years inferior 

 in size and outline. It is also said by botanical collectors 

 in Mexico that wild Dahlias are mostly self-colored, 

 rarely variegated. Among the bewildering variety of 

 variegated Dahlias the leading tj^pes of variegation are 



DAHLIA 447 



perhaps only 5- (a) the "tipped" or "shaded" Dah- 

 lias, a vers common form m which the upper part 



of the riA 1^ 1 VI iih x ' "* ■' "'"' ninther color, the 

 foimert Mil) 111 11 ' ' ind the latter for 

 the .ri If 1 It I 'i ) the " edged " 

 Ddhli i> 1 lilt IN confined to the 

 sides I t tl 1 i\ 1 I and is usually 

 a broid stitp i ) tJi 1 ii is, with a very 

 nairowstiip ot Liiloi ^\1 whuli margin of 

 theri\s. and(itten„'i\ ii 1 damty effect; 

 ((f) the "stiipi il mil I'll \ ith Iiroid bands 

 down the nn 1 1 i _ih4 lut" the " edged" 

 forms, ((|tl Ills V huh are variously 

 dotted and s| 1 llUJ:nl)^\ to the broad fea- 

 tures m th . 1 Mil I fiiiuth isthe pro- 

 dui ti t t , , st' Ills suitable 

 for I 1 I M tliK k, short 



been tin . ii. thin.,' ili.iut i tiiimiio' \ luttj that the 

 florist has hated most and has most relentlessly sup- 

 pressed It Is ofttn a sign of poor stock The tempta- 

 tion to over propagate novelties is almost irresistible, and 

 the appearance of a disk is usually taken as a symptom 

 of over-propagation or deficient culture. A yellow center 

 is considered objectionable by most people when it 

 occurs with rays of magenta or allied shades, as the 

 colors conflict. " There is no qnpstion that it breaks the 

 absohite rt-L'ularity and unity nt' a |.rrfcct sliow flower, 

 but it is a .lu.-stiiiii, iviirriiiily \iiili wiiite and yeUow- 

 raved furnis. if tin- \illii\\- -li-k a.Ms not often add a 

 pleasant variatiun. Asidu fn.iii niatti-rs of taste, it is 

 probable that no other florists' flower has had more full, 

 precise and minute rules laid down for its perfect form 

 than the Show Dahlia. The process of doubling seems 

 to be associated with a cool climate. Dahlias soon de- 

 generate to a relatively single condition in our southern 

 states, and new stock of desired varieties has to be se- 

 cured from the north. (6) The habit has been vastly im- 



662. The 

 Tliis is really a Fancy v.'iriety, but tlie only distinction is o 

 size, and compared with Fig. 663 this is a Pompon. 



