Dahlia Shows 177 



garden, entirely for pleasure, are amateur gar- 

 deners as well; but are considered by the Ameri- 

 can Dahlia Society as private growers, and a 

 special section is provided for them. The 

 "little gardener" who digs in his own garden 

 has far less opportunity against these large 

 estates than against the professional. It is for 

 this reason that I have recommended the simple 

 schedule of small classes for the average com- 

 munity show. 



An amateur does not lose his or her standing 

 by selling surplus stock and purchasing new 

 varieties with the money. This is not being 

 "engaged in gardening as a livelihood." Sur- 

 plus stock often is exchanged for something 

 coveted in a neighbour's garden, but if your 

 neighbour does not chance to have what you 

 long for, or does not happen to need what you 

 have for exchange, there can be no harm in selling 

 what would otherwise go to waste, and with the 

 money purchase what you wish. The "little 

 gardener," who is an amateur in the truest sense 

 of the word, can never hope to possess the ex- 

 pensive new varieties in any other way. 



In local communities it is never wise to allow 

 amateurs and professionals to compete against 

 one another. It is a disadvantage to both; 

 nevertheless, the professional should by no means 



