Dahlia Analysis 99 



whereas a Cactus Dahlia which is still prominently 

 exhibited, or indeed, exhibited at all four years after 

 the date of its introduction, is now regarded as quite 

 an old stager. 



For the present position of the Cactus Dahlia 

 much credit can, I think, be justly claimed by the 

 National Dahlia Society, which at a critical period in 

 the development of this new type of flower so stead- 

 fastly and consistently discouraged the exhibition of 

 the so-called Cactus or Decorative varieties, with 

 their flat and often flimsy florets. Any readers 

 of the Journal who may be interested in that 

 grand early autumn flower, the Dahlia, and its latest 

 developments in all sections, should, if possible, 

 visit the next exhibition of the National Dahlia 

 Society. 



The number of blooms or bunches, as the case may 

 be, set up in competition at the last five exhibitions 

 of the National Dahlia Society, in each of the five 

 sections into which Dahlias are now divided, will be 

 found in the following short statement : 



1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 



Shows, No. of blooms . . .930 838 702 682 832 



Fancies, 312 305 336 314 272 



Pompons, No. of bunches . . 234 190 180 222 228 



Cactus, 432 361 297 354 357 



Cactus, shown singly . - . . 216 216 798 672 



Singles, No. of bunches . . 116 131 117 126 153 



In the above list no account is taken in the case 

 of Shows and Fancies of the number of blooms set up 

 in the classes for three or more flowers of any one 

 variety, nor in the case of the Cactus varieties of the 

 exhibition blooms staged in vases. 



