OCToniOK 15, 190S. 



The Weekly Florists^ Review* 



J3 



Marguerite Bouchoii. Yvonne Cayeux. Sciliwan 



Three of the Varieties of Dahlias Described by George S. Stoddard. 



VARIETIES OF DAHLIAS. 



As tlie dahlia season is about ciuled, 

 it occurs to 1110 that some of your corro- 

 sjinndcnts niiolit write an interestiiifj ar- 

 ticle f^ivin^r tlie characteristics of some 

 of the new varieties of cactus and deco- 

 rative dahlias, which have been intro- 

 <luced within the last tlircc years. I 

 am only a bepjinner witii these plants 

 and my dahlia crop fur the last two 

 years has been a failure, owini; to con- 

 <litions Avhich 1 could not control. In 

 ])roparing such a ]iaper, it is my idea 

 that for the cactus type the Countess of 

 Lonsdale sliould lie taken as a standard, 

 as without a doubt it has all the desir- 

 able characteristics, excepting possibly 

 color, of the true cactus type. 



I have found that the descriptions in 

 the florists' catalogues generally omit 

 the undosiral)le characteristics, such as 

 soft wood, weak stem and siiy bloom. 



Some time ago you published an arti- 

 cle on peonies, reviewing a large num- 

 ber of varieties, with a short descrip- 

 tion of each variety, and to me a sim- 

 ilar article on dahlias would be of great 

 interest. Wm. W. Macfarlane. 



Notes on Varieties. 



Aurora. — A dahha of German origin, 

 producing flowers from live to seven 

 inches in diameter, having a cream col- 

 ored center, shading to amber, then to 

 j)ink with white tips. A fine llower for 

 <locorations, showing up well under ar- 

 tificial light. 



Ivauhoe. — This is an English dahlia 

 of a fine straw color, with slight shad- 

 ings of amber. It is altogether a lino 

 dahlia and very free. 



I'apa C'harnut. — A French decorative 

 variety of large size, with flowers meas- 

 uring six to eight inches in diameter, 

 it is a most beautiful shade of crimson 

 maroon. The flowers are freely pro- 

 <lu('ed and every one perfect. 



Sambo.— A welcome addition to the 

 <lark varieties of cactus dahlias. The 

 flowers are a rich, dark maroon, with 

 the center almost black. Of good size 

 and line form. 



Wm. ^Marshall. — ■ Another Knglish 

 dahlia of recent introduction, and one 

 whifh attracts a good deal of attention. 

 It is a rich, ripe straw color, with a 

 lighter center. The flowers are of large 

 size and freely produced. One of the 

 best for decoration. 



^Marguerite Bouchnn. — This is a 

 French cactus daldia, and one that is 



sure 'to be in large demand. The color 

 is a most beautiful shade of jiink, with 

 white tijis. It is a massive tlower, al- 

 ways full to the center, and freely pro- 

 duced. This and the two following 

 varieties are shown in the illustrations. 



^'vDUiie Cayeux. — A ])uro white cactus 

 dahlia, of fine form and very free. Tlie 

 florets are straight and the flowers are 

 borne on long stems. Of French origin. 



Sfliwau. — II(>ro is by far the most 

 beautiful white cactus dahlia yet pro- 

 duc(»d. It is as pure white as the snow. 



The Editor Is pleased 

 \^hen a Reader 

 presents Ills Ideas 

 on any subject treated In 



TVIBf 



As experience Is tlie bent 

 teacher, so do ^e 

 learn fastest by aa 

 exchange of experiences. 

 Many valuable points 

 are brousbt out 

 by discussion. 



Good penmanship, spoiling- and prram- 

 niar, thoiiyh desirable, are not neces- 

 sary. Write as you would talk when 

 doing your best. 



WE SHALL. BE GLAD 

 TO HEAR FROM YOU. 



The incurved and twisted petals make 

 it a most graceful and characteristic 

 flower for all-around use. The habit of 

 growth is all that can be desired. The 

 flowers are thrown well up on long, stiff 

 stems. This dahlia is highly prized in 

 Gernuiny, where it originated. 



Directeur Quennec. — A good French 

 dahlia, and very free. Color, pale yel- 

 low, with slight shadings of copper and 

 splashings of white. 



Eeliablc.— An English novelty. As 

 its name implies, it is a truly reliable 

 variety. I have yet to see one flower 



with an open center. From one plant, 

 during this exco](tionally dry season, 

 twenty large, jierfect flowers could have 



I u out at one time. It is a fine dahlia 



ill every way. Color, yellow at the base; 

 the outer jietals are salmon, with a sheen 

 of faint scarlet. 



Alight. — Another Knglish dahlia of 

 good texture and fine form. The florets 

 are like needles, perfectly sot together 

 in large numbers, making a very full 

 flower. A free liloomer. Color, rich 

 orange scarlet. 



Mine. Henri Cayeux. — Here is a 

 I'rench dahlia, and without doubt the 

 finest in cultivation. The flowers are 

 very large, with needle-like petals, well 

 sot and full. Color, a most pleasing 

 shade of j)iiik, with each petal tipped 

 white. It is a flower of great merit. 

 (1e(». .s. Stoddard. 



POT PLANTS. 



I have some nice plants of Browallia 

 spcciosa major, Torcuiia Fournieri and 

 .Matricaria capeusis alba. The seeds were 

 sown about the- middle of August. When 

 may I expect tiiom to bloom? What 

 temperature, and what is the best size 

 jiots to use? L. K. 



lirowallia speciosa major and Torenia 

 Kouruiori should be given a winter tem- 

 jioiature of .lU to o.j degrees at night. 

 If kept potted along, they will commence 

 flowering in April. As ii rule, pots six 

 inches in diameter are sulHciently large 

 for good sized plants. Matricaria ca- 

 peusis alba is perhaps better known as 

 Clirysaiithomum iiartliouoides alba. This 

 is a (|uit(! vigorous growing variety and 

 sh.uilil have 7-iucli to S-iuch pots. It 

 will not give iiuudi (lower before early 

 suuiiner, and is not equal to the marguer- 

 ites in comuiorci.'tl value. It will pay 

 ynuOiottcr to take cuttings of the lattoV 

 MOW and grow them on rather than 

 trouble with the matricarias. C. W. 



IIerrixgton's book on mums sent by 

 the Keview for 50 cents. 



K'liiNEBECK, X. Y.— The Growers' Cut 

 I'lowor Co. has been incorpuratod, with 

 a capital of .$10,000. The directors are 

 Henry Weston, of Hempstead; Charles 

 F. Bertanzcl, of Koslyn, and Henry 

 Lustgarten, of jManhassot. In last 

 week's L'EVIEW it was stated the com- 

 pany had opened a wholesale store at 

 ;>!» West Twenty-eighth street, Xew York 

 .itv. 



