ON THE DAHLIA 



species rises to a height of seven or eight feet, 

 there are dwarfed cultivated races that are only 

 eighteen inches high. 



In habit, there is a corresponding range of 

 variation, some cultivated species requiring a large 

 amount of moisture, whereas others thrive in a 

 dry soil. Even the seed is of altered shape, and 

 the time of blooming, which in the early part of 

 the nineteenth century was said to be from Sep- 

 tember to November, has been so extended that 

 some of the modified dwarfed forms are now in 

 full flower in June. 



In quite recent years a type of dahlias has been 

 introduced in which the petals are less tubular but 

 have a typical and characteristic tapering form. 

 This is known as the cactus dahlia, partly because 

 of the shape of its flower, and partly because of its 

 brilliant scarlet color. 



The original flower of this type was found in 

 Mexico about 1879, and was named Dahlia 

 Jiiarezii, after President Juarez, "the Washington 

 of Mexico." The precise origin of the plant is 

 unknown, but it is believed to be a variety of the 

 original Dahlia variabilis. In any event the new 

 type has been crossed with other races, and it now 

 appears, like the others, in practically all colors, 

 with the single exception of clear blue, this color 

 alone being seemingly unwelcome to flowers of 



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