THE DAHLIA. 



CHAPTER VI. 



NEW VARIETIES. 



HE popularity of a plant is always increased by the produc- 

 tion of new varieties. Whether this is, altogether, because 

 we tire of existing kinds, or because the production of dis- 

 tinct forms and types disproves the old adage of there being 

 " nothing new under the sun," each reader must decide for 

 themselves. The scientist would demonstrate that nothing 

 new had been created that it was only new combinations 

 of what existed before ; but in this very demonstration, however, he would 

 admit that which he was trying to disprove ; it is these new 7 and marvelously 

 beautiful combinations that excite the admiration of the flower-loving world. 

 No other flower has been so improved by the production of new varieties as 

 the Dahlia, and, strange to say, without impairing its vigor of growth. 



Although many new varieties are produced by sports from existing 

 kinds, the most important method, and only one by which real progress is 

 made, is by planting selected seeds. To secure the best results, seed should 

 be saved from dwarf, very double varieties only, as they not only bloom 

 earlier but give a greater percentage of good flowers. Crossing varieties 

 also offers great possibilities in the production of superior sorts, and many 

 specialists secure the exact kinds they wish by the judicious selection of 

 parent plants. 



Artificial crossing of varieties is very easily accomplished if the proper 

 care is taken, although growers have, in the past, been content to depend 

 chiefly on bees and other insects for all crossing, and simply gathered seed 

 from the finest flowers. All that is necessary is to select the varieties it is 

 desired to cross, and apply the pollen of one to the pistil of the other with a 

 fine camel' s-hair brush. It will take several operations on each flower-head, 

 as each head is composed of numerous individual flowers which open slowly, 

 commencing at the base of the rays or petals. Care must be taken to remove 

 the stamen from each flower of the head, before it can impregnate the pistil 

 with its own pollen, also to cover the flowers operated on w r ith wire screens, 

 to keep off bees and other insects. 



The seed can be sown thinly in the greenhouse, in a box in the house, 

 or in a mild hot-bed early in April, and transplanted into the open ground 



