34 THE DAHLIA. 



constant, Catherine, La Petite Jean, Aillet's Imperial, Sprig, Crimson Beauty, 

 Little Prince, Daybreak and Fashion. 



All of the single varieties are especially adapted for cutting, and many 

 of the Dwarf varieties are used by florists for design work ; of the latter 

 Alba Imbricata, Cameliaflora and Mary Bruant are the most important. 



Massing and Banking. Nothing can be lovelier or grander than a mass 

 or bank of bright colored Dahlias tastefully planted so as to display the 

 beautiful colors to advantage. The Show, Dwarf and Single varieties are 

 especially valuable for this purpose, as are also a few of the Decorative Cac- 

 tus, Fancy and Pompon. They must be profuse bloomers, of sturdy growth 

 and of bright and intense colors. Of the Decorative Cactus varieties, Nym- 

 phcea, Wm. Agnew, Lyndhurst, Clifford W. Bruton, Beauty of Brentwood 

 and Henry Patrick are among the best. Of the Show and Fancy sections the 

 following are unsurpassed : Lucy Fawcett, A. D. Livoni, Pluton, Arabella, 

 Miss Florence Shearer, Princess Bonnie, Wacht Am Rhine, Marg. Bruant, 

 Grand Duke Alexis, Crimson Giant, Red Head, Colibre, Bird of Passage, 

 Hercules, Marguerite. All of the free flowering Dwarf, Tom Thumb and 

 Single varieties are valuable for this purpose ; also, such Pompon sorts as 

 Klein Domatia, Snowclad, Fairy Tales, Catherine, Vivid, Loveliness, Dandy 

 and Virginale. 



Bedding. Gardeners are now beginning to realize the great possibilities 

 of the Dahlia as a bedding plant. For this purpose they must be of strong, 

 sturdy, branching growth, and profuse bloomers, while the flowers must be 

 of good substance, rich and brilliant colors, and be able to withstand the 

 hot summer sun without fading. The height of the plant will depend on the 

 kind of bedding ; tall and semi-dwarf varieties for large beds, and dwarf sorts 

 for small beds or for low 7 bedding purposes. Some very attractive beds have 

 been grown by planting tall varieties in the center, around which were planted 

 rows of proportionately dwarfer varieties. These rows may be of dwarfer 

 varieties of the same color, or may be of different colors as desired, there 

 being no limit to the possible arrangements or combinations, owing to the 

 numerous good varieties at command. 



Spedmen Plants. This is one of the most pleasing and valuable forms 

 in which the Dahlia is grown, and, perhaps, the most popular. Any of the 

 free blooming varieties will produce fine specimen plants, if large roots are 

 planted, but one shoot allowed to grow, and that pinched off and forced to 

 branch at the surface of the ground ; though on small grounds the dwarf or 

 bedding varieties are generally grown. By selecting different varieties they 

 may be grown to all sizes and well-grown specimens of some of the newer 

 varieties is an entrancingly lovely sight, and one long to be remembered. 



Borders and Hedges . Along open and exposed walks and driveways 

 Dahlias are sometimes planted with excellent results. They may all be of one 



