76 The Amateur's Book of the Dahlia 



many more in the pod, long and thin, the edges 

 slightly white, rather limp in substance. These 

 are undeveloped seeds and will never germinate; 

 the pollen applied was not acceptable, or condi- 

 tions in one way or another did not allow them 

 to develop. Throw them all away and save 

 only what you know will grow. I have known 

 pods to contain only such undeveloped seeds 

 with the exception of but one; and this one has 

 often grown to a plant of superlative value. 



At the present time California is so far ahead 

 of any part of the world in the production of 

 new varieties that our country should be very 

 proud. Dahlias grow there as we can never 

 hope to have them in the East. The climate 

 is cool and the damp west winds bathe the 

 foliage with that most necessary moisture. The 

 soil, much of which is volcanic, seems to contain 

 all the elements necessary for their growth. 

 With such healthy flowers for parents, and a 

 long season for the development of the seed, 

 how can seedlings be otherwise but fine? 



This bit of California is not the whole state, 

 by any means. It is only a strip along the 

 coast some four hundred miles long, both north 

 and south of the Golden Gate, and only a few 

 miles wide. In some places, ten miles from the 

 coast, dahlias will not grow, while close to the 



