DAHLIAS 29 



England in 1789 by Lady Bute. These speci- 

 mens did not flourish, and again the Dahlia 

 was brought into England by Lady Holland. 

 The actual bed in which these pioneers were 

 planted may be seen to-day at Holland House, 

 Kensington. The first Dahlias were single in 

 form, successive generations under cultivation 

 having produced the remarkable double varie- 

 ties that have made the modern show Dahlias 

 famous. Indeed, it is doubtful if more re- 

 markable examples of floral double composites 

 exist. Early in the nineteenth century a horti- 

 culturist succeeded in producing the Pompon 

 type of Dahlia. This gave a decided impetus 

 to the cultivation of the plant just as the ap- 

 pearance of the Cactus Dahlia did in 1880, 

 which was evolved by a Dutch Horticulturist 

 of Juxphaar. 



While tastes in the choice of flowers differ, 

 it is doubtful if any flowers surpass the single 

 Dahlia varieties, no matter how showy the 

 other types may be. It is a fact that in those 

 countries where a sense of design is more prev- 

 alent with the public at large than it is in 

 America or in England, the Dahlia is most 

 popular. Its appeal is not one of sentiment or 



