LUTHER BURBANK 



land and with the short a in America, each branch 

 of the Anglo-Saxon race seemingly trying to get as 

 far away as possible, in different directions, from 

 the natural pronounciation suggested by the deri- 

 vation of the name, and its spelling — ^if indeed the 

 spelling of a word in our language can be said to 

 have any particular association with pronuncia- 

 tion. 



Early DE^'ELOPMENT of the Dahlu 



All that, however, is of no great importance. 

 A dahlia by any other name or pronunciation 

 would be equally attractive. What is important is 

 that this flo\ver, brought from its sub-tropical 

 home, proved wonderfully adaptable to its new 

 surroundings, and showed a responsiveness to 

 good treatment that presently transformed its gen- 

 eral appearance, and gave it secure place in the 

 group of three or four most popular flowers. 



There are several species of dahlia, all natives 

 of Mexico or the regions a little farther south. But 

 the species that is chiefly responsible for the devel- 

 opment of the new races, or at any rate those that 

 first gained recognition in Europe, is one that be- 

 cause of its tendency to vary even in a state of 

 nature was named Dahlia variabilis. 



This flower, which was introduced into England 

 in the year 1789 by the Marchioness of Bute, has 

 the general form of a very large daisy and it 



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