TUBEROUS A>~D BHIZOMATOUS FLOWEES. 57 



Dahlia — Dahlia variabilis — a floral upstart, the whole 

 course of whose rise to fame and fortune is within the 

 memory of many persons now living. The original 

 single-flowered plant, from Mexico, first claimed the 

 attention of horticulturists as an edible root, whose 

 repulsive, nauseous, peppery taste inspires equal disgust 

 to man and beast. Then, single dahlias were thought 

 line things, and various gay colours were obtained from 

 seedlings. Then came the phenomena of double dahlias, 

 which were taken into favour by enterprising florists, 

 and improved, and improved, till they became what we 

 see them now. The dahlia is essentially a made flower ; 

 its cultivators proposed to themselves a certain model, 

 as to form and furnishing of petals, which they deter- 

 mined to perfect ; and by skill in hybridizing, by outlay 

 in sowing enormous numbers of seeds, and, above all, 

 by patient perseverance, they have perfected it. One 

 great point, however, they have not attained, — the pro- 

 duction either of a blue, or of an agreeably-scented 

 flower. !Xo attempt will here be made to name any of 

 the choice varieties of Dahlia which, at the moment of 

 this present writing, may chance to be the favourites of 

 the day. The existence of this little Book may be more 

 durable than most of theirs ; and it would be of little 

 service to print a list that would soon become obsolete 

 by the intrusion of fresh candidates for the public ap- 

 plause. Inquiring readers had best consult the current 

 numbers of the Gardener's Chronicle, in whose adver- 

 tisements and answers to Correspondents they will be 

 sure to find all they are in search of. Perhaps, though 

 not probably, a blue perfumed Dahlia will start from the 

 earth ; in which case, those which now figure in the par- 

 terre will have to hide their diminished heads, for a time 

 at least. Many old esteemed varieties have completely 

 disappeared; while the mercantile horticulturists, both 

 of Great Britain and the Continent, annually inundate 

 the market with a copious flood of novelties, many of 

 which are inferior to their predecessors. The wisest- 

 course for the inexperienced amateur is to leave the 



