92 EECOKD OF HORTICULTTJEE. 



and making, as it were, perfection more perfect. The ob- 

 ject aimed at for many years was the production of large 

 flowers, as well as perfect ones, and the results were that 

 most of the varieties have become too large for cut-flowers 

 or to be used in a bouquet. 



Extremes in flower culture often prove beneficial in the 

 end, because they are the precursors of the radical changes 

 which we observe in various departments of Horticulture. 

 Our florists appear to possess the faculty of producing 

 whatever fashion or convenience may dictate, and with the 

 Dahlia they have responded to the demands of both in 

 giving us that charming class called the Liliputs. Perfec- 

 tion of form or diversity of color has not been lost by the 

 change, for all that has been obtained with the larger 

 flowers has been fully transmitted to the lesser. 



It is not to be supposed that the introduction of these 

 small varieties will drive the larger ones out of culti- 

 vation, because there are those who will admire both 

 classes, while others will give one of them the prefer- 

 ence. The Liliputs, however, are such gems of beauty, 

 that they are likely to prove very popular with all classes 

 of cultivators, and especially with those who did not ad- 

 mire the larger varieties. Fig. 12 shows a full-size flower 

 of one of the Liliput Dahlias. These are not only much 

 smaller than the common varieties, but the plants are 

 comparatively less vigorous in growth, and seldom exceed 

 three feet in height. They require the same treatment as 

 the old varieties, and should be planted as early in spring 

 as the weather will permit, so that the tubers will become 

 mature before they are taken up in the fall. Immature 



