May, 190 9 



THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 



233 



Show type; very formal. The old-fashioned flower. 

 Also includes the fancy type 



miniatures — and flowering throughout the 

 season, are the "pompons." 



The "cactus" varieties show the greatest 

 divergence from the extreme formality of 

 the show type, the petals being long, loose, 

 usually much pointed, and maybe variously 

 twisted. In the most modern development 

 of this type the ends of the petals or rays 

 turn abruptly upward, standing almost 

 at right angles, and the entire petal is curved 

 backward longitudinally on itself. Because 

 of their extreme lightness these flowers are 

 wonderfully attractive, and valuable both 

 for exhibition and for decoration. The 

 extremes of perfection in this type are not 

 produced profusely, and consequently can 

 only be regarded as exhibition blooms. 

 The cactus dahlias have but a limited 

 list of varieties of the garden type, but are 

 overwhelmingly dominant in all exhibitions. 

 Generally the blooms are produced with 

 short stems and are found nestling or hid- 

 den among the foliage. 



We are fortunate, however, in having one 

 variety of this group, Countess of Lonsdale, 

 a delicate salmon, which is generally 

 acknowledged to be the one best variety of 

 this type for garden purposes. It flowers 

 profusely on long stems, and is good for 

 cutting. If I were restricted to only one 

 dahlia, this is the variety that would have 

 the preference as being the most useful, 

 all-round variety. 



An intermediate type, with the petals 

 more flattened than in the cactus, and not 

 so distinctly quilled as in the show, is the 

 "decorative" type — by long odds the 

 most valuable for garden purposes, and the 

 one which has been largely instrumental 

 in reviving interest in dahlias in America. 

 Flowering profusely, and on long stems, 

 varieties of this type are invaluable for 

 fall flowers in the garden and for interior 

 decorations. 



The " single " type is sufficiently obvious, 

 the flower, which does not measure more 



Decorative show type; not so formal as the true 

 show. Very large 



than three inches across, consisting merely of 

 the central disk surrounded by a single series 

 of expanded ray florets in various colors. 

 Of recent years there have been distinct 

 modifications of this type, so that we now 

 have the " single cactus " with the ray florets 

 rolled back into narrow, thread-like fila- 

 ments, and the "anemone-flowered," in 

 which the tendency to doubling is becoming 

 manifest, the inner florets being shorter 

 than those of the outer series. 



The most important group of the singles, 

 though, is the "Twentieth Century" type, 

 carrying enormous blooms four inches or 

 more across on stout, long stems, in every 

 way valuable for cut flowers. It should 

 form part of the collection of the amateur 

 who wants bold, striking flowers for cutting. 



A great number of the more or less 

 marked modifications also occur, such as 

 the "collerette," in which the ray florets 

 have a petaloid development of the stamen 

 tube, usually white or yellow, and showing up 

 strikingly against the ground color of the 

 ray florets. 



With these well-marked divisions in 

 mind, it should be an easy matter to select 

 varieties that will suit your special require- 

 ments, and the following selections of varie- 

 ties of the different types is made with a 

 view to giving the greatest range of color 

 and habit, combined with the best types of 

 flower and special adaptation for some par- 

 ticular purpose. It will, of course, be un- 

 derstood that among the more exclusive 

 novelties of the specialist there may be 

 even more meritorious varieties; but they 

 are not easy to secure in the ordinary way. 

 I know one wealthy amateur who imports 

 each year from Europe all the next year's 

 novelties for trial before they are offered to 

 the public. 



SHOW VARIETIES 



A. D. Livoni, a rather small flower, but 

 extremely desirable for its delicate pink 



Decorative type; the most useful, all-round gar- 

 den type, flowering profusely 



shade and its great floriferousness. The 

 flowers are borne on erect stems, twelve 

 inches long, and appear quite early in the 

 season and remain until the very end. 



Storm King, the most free-blooming 

 white. Fairly good size, in greatest pro- 

 fusion from August until frost. 



In the yellow shades we have Charles 

 Lanier, a deep, dull gold, and Vashti, a 

 bright, clear yellow. Both are remark- 

 able for their large-sized blooms, borne 

 on stems three feet and longer. Fifty 

 or more blooms open at one time on the 

 plant is not unusual. 



Meteor, scarlet, is a very large, full flower, 

 which grows on very stout, erect stems. 

 The plants grow quite tall. Dr. Ivirtland, 

 deep maroon, is a grand old sort, which 

 produces monster blossoms in the greatest 

 abundance on a single plant. 



Acquisition often is the first to bloom, 

 producing colossal flowers of a most effective 

 deep mauve. The stems measure two 

 feet and longer. The size of bloom de- 

 creases with the season, but it always is 

 perfect, and can be kept in water from four 

 to five days. 



Other solid colors of decided merit are 

 La Colosse, a most beautiful loose-petalled 

 variety of dull crimson, very large; La 

 Republique, soft blush; Mr. Glasscock, 

 deep purple; Rosamund, rose crimson; 

 Edward Lefavour, deep rose. 



Pompons selected for distinctness of color 

 are these: Bacchus, crimson scarlet; Purity, 

 white; Emily Hopper, yellow; Ernest Har- 

 per, coral red; Guiding Star, pure white; 

 Mars, bright scarlet; Mephisto, maroon. 



SINGLE AND MISCELLANEOUS 



Among the old-fashioned single dahlias 

 I am particularly fond of Darkness, deep 

 maroon; Formosa, bright crimson; Miss 

 Roberts, clear yellow; Princess of Wales, 

 delicate pink; Snowdrop, pure white. 



The Twentieth Century type is available 



