DAHLIA. 



79 



warded to the gardener at St. Cloud all the three varie- 

 ties which were then known, namely, D. coccinea, 

 D. purpurea and D. crocata. These produced seeds, 

 which were sown, but, notwithstanding all the attempts 

 which were made year after year, they still remained 

 single. In Belgium, however, they were more success- 

 ful ; for we learn that in 1812, M. Donkelaar, botanic 

 gardener at Louvain, having sown a quantity of seeds, 

 raised plants which the first year produced all single 

 flowers. Disappointed, but not discouraged, he from 

 these saved a second quantity, which, in their turn, pro- 

 duced semi-double flowers ; and, emboldened with the 

 success which attained this second essay, he, from the 

 best of these semi-double flowers, produced a further 

 supply of seed, the produce of which, in the following 

 year, presented him with three plants which bore flowers 

 perfectly double. These were, therefore, the first really 

 double flowers ever produced. After this there were 

 many varieties raised, of all shades and depths of color, 

 and from this time the Dahlia began to attract for itself 

 a measure of interest, which has gone on increasing, and 

 which, even at the present day, seems to be as great and 

 unabating as if it were a plant of the most recent intro- 

 duction, and which was still a novelty in the midst of us." 



The popularity of the Dahlia, at that period, was 

 quite as great in this country as in Europe. Exhibitions 

 of this flower alone were held in the principal cities, and 

 every encouragement was given to the production of new 

 varieties. From that time, until within the past few 

 years, when the single forms were again introduced, its 

 popularity waned, while the enthusiasm for the single 

 forms knew no bounds. Again the double forms are 

 attracting as much attention as they did thirty years ago ; 

 new varieties are being brought out, and the older ones 

 reinstated to their former position in the garden. 



For garden display, we have no flower that can be 

 so successfully and satisfactorily grown as the Dahlia. 



