COMPOSITE FAMILY 



strains of other species, but at base the Dahlia of the garden is 

 the modified and variable forms of Dahlia rosea, the furst species 

 of the genus introduced into cultivation. 



It is evident that from the first the species varied marvellously 

 within clearly defined limits; that the original eight-rayed flower 

 developed double forms with wonderful facility; and that very 

 early two definite groups known as the Show and the Fancy types 

 were established. 



This classification still exists; its limits are well understood 

 and its laws observed in all competitions among Dahlia growers. 

 The Show Dahlia is usually of one color, though it does not lose 

 standing if the edges of the ray are darker than the ground. 



The Fancy Dahlia is always of two or more colors, striped or 

 with edges lighter than the ground. The Pompon is simply a small 

 brother of the Show or the Fancy Dahlia, having the same colors 

 and the same form with smaller and more abundant bloom. These 

 three groups represented the development of the Dahlia until 1880. 

 They are stiff, formal flowers of surprising regularity and great 

 range of color. The standard of perfection requires that no yellow 

 centre is to be seen. The reaction against this formal flower, this 

 "chub-faced dahlia which carves out of soap, lard, or wax his 

 regular pompons," found expression in the Cactrus Dahlia. The 

 origin of this type is virtually unknown. A Dutch dealer got a 

 root from Mexico that produced one plant which is the parent of 

 aU the cactus forms. It is not known whether this root was pro- 

 duced by the seed of a wild or of a cultivated form; neither is it 

 .known whether any wild single Dahlia of the cactus type has ever 

 been found. The plant was named Dahlia Juarezii in honor of 

 the Mexican president and so appears in all the garden lists. This 

 new Dahlia was named Cactus because of the resemblance in form, 

 but chiefly in color of its blossom to that of the crimson-flowered 

 Ctreus specioslssimus. The name has lost whatever significance 

 it might at first have possessed, for the Cactus Dahlia has acquired 

 all the colors of its race. 



The Decorative or Cactus Hybrid group includes all forms that 

 vary from the strictly formal and cactus types. Many are hybrids 



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