262 THE GOLD MINE 



It was first discovered in Mexico by Baron Humbolt 

 and was sent by him to the botanical gardens of Madrid. 

 It was named Dahlia in honor of a noted botanist, Dahl. 

 After its first introduction it seems to have dropped out 

 of sight. It was reintroduced into Holland, the land of 

 flowers, in 1804. It was single at first and I suppose 

 there were almost countless efforts made to improve it 

 and finally after long experiments a double form re- 

 warded the florist. Then improvements followed thick 

 and fast untibwe have the almost infinite varieties of 

 form and color. Almost every shade but the blue has 

 been produced. There is growing in Mexico the Dahlia 

 Excelsa, which grows 30 feet high, covered with a pro- 

 fusion of bloom. Dahlia Imperialis is a distinct spe- 

 cies growing 10 to 15 feet high with fine branching, 

 treelike form, producing in the fall pure white droop- 

 ing, lilylike flowers three inches in diameter. Of 

 course these last named are too tender for our north- 

 ern climate, and the seasons are not long enough for 

 their development. 



A few years ago there w^as a decline in the demand 

 for this flower. But as prosperity returned and the love 

 of flowers has grown, a need was manifest for a flower 

 which would reach from the paeony to the time of frost 

 and so the want grew and the Dahlia grew to match it ; 

 till now one man in ISTew Jersey has 80 acres and the 

 flowers were sold by one firm in Philadelphia. 



Our small cities and country towns are very slow to 

 take up things of merit. Flowers may be ever so beau- 



