ON THE DAHLIA 



single type. So while the dahlia is constantly raised 

 from the seed, it is always to be expected that the 

 seedlings will show a wide range of variation. 



It is only in specimens grown from the bulb 

 that any certain prediction can be made as to the 

 precise characteristics of the prospective flowers. 



One of my beautiful yellow double dahlias has 

 shown a curious responsiveness to the diverse con- 

 ditions of soil in the gardens at Santa Rosa and at 

 the experiment farm at Sebastopol only seven 

 miles distant. 



At Santa Rosa the plant grows to a height of 

 about three feet, and resembles the common types 

 of dahlia as to its general maner of growth, 

 though an unusually profuse bloomer. 



But at Sebastopol the plant is a dwarf, not ex- 

 ceeding two feet in height; and as it retains its 

 habit of profuse blooming the dwarfed form looks 

 like a solid bouquet of cut dahlias. 



Similar modifications in the size of plants, but 

 less striking in degree, are of course common 

 enough under differing conditions of soil, and in 

 particular with varying moisture. But of course 

 such variations do not affect the heredity of the 

 plant appreciably. They have no relation with the 

 production of dwarf and gigantic varieties in the 

 same fraternity through hybridizing, of which we 

 have seen examples among various races of plants. 



[215] 



