204 The Amateur's Booh of the Dahlia 



Northern states and where soil is exceptionally 

 sweet; pale and delicate in hotter places, but 

 steadfast in its colour and free in bloom. 

 Madame Van Bij stein, whose foreign ancestry 

 is unquestioned, ranks a close second. A re- 

 fined, graceful peony dahlia of exceptionally free- 

 flowering habit and of medium size. She is 

 very amenable to our moulding touch, and by 

 strict disbudding will achieve great size, and 

 sometimes become decorative in form. 



Attraction, conceded by all to be the finest of 

 the lavenders, is a shy bloomer and is often 

 nearly pink in colour. A so-called hybrid cactus 

 of exquisite refinement with frilled petals and long, 

 strong stem which carries the bloom well above 

 the foliage, whether pink or lavender, it at least 

 is never magenta, and is beautiful at all times. 



The lavender decoratives, of which, perhaps, 

 the Millionaire on account of its great size is the 

 most conspicuous, seldom do themselves justice 

 in any but a cool climate. During our hot 

 summer days the pigment is inclined to concen- 

 trate itself in the outer petals, leaving the centre 

 almost pure white. When cool days come, 

 however, their colour and texture resemble a 

 silken brocade. 



Beware of purples for they are born of 

 magenta; that colour with which Nature loves 



