24 



HENRY A, DEEEE, Philadelphia, Fa. 



Dreer's Select Dahlias— continued. 



FANCY DAHLIA, FRANK SMITH. 



It will, no doubt, surprise many lovers of Dahlias when we tell them 

 that this beautiful variety, which we illustrate in colors in our Garden 

 Book (Retail Catalogue) this year, is not new, or even of recent intro- 

 duction, it having been offered in our own catalogue in 1868, and while 

 we are uncertain as to the exact year of its introduction, it is safe to 

 assume that it was over half a century ago. 



It was raised right here in Philadelphia, by Mr. Gerard Schmitz, 

 who seems to have been the Burbank of his time, An article which 

 appeared in the " Philadelphia Florist " in 1852 — fifty-five years ago — 

 says of him : 



" Old Gerard is a great one to raise seedlings of Pears, Peaches, 

 Strawberries, Dahlias, etc., etc. * * * He now occupies the Passy- 

 unk Nursery- This is the mart for Dahlias in all varieties. His seed- 

 lings are justly celebrated, and can compete with those of any other 

 cultivator, and' struck us during the past season as worthy of note 

 amongst the immense variety of this much-cultivated flower, which 

 seem now to command reawakened interest." 



The fact that since then thousands of Dahlias of all types have been 

 introduced, simply to disappear, should be convincing proof that a va- 

 riety which has stood the test of over half a century must have excep- 

 tional merit, and we feel safe in saying that Frank Smith is still the 

 most beautiful fancy Dahlia yet introduced. Its color is a most intense 

 purplish-maroon, shading almost to black, each petal tipped with white, 

 with brilliant carmine-red shadings ; and while occasionally some of 

 the flowers do not show the variegation, it is then one of the finest 

 self colored varieties. In habit of growth it is vigorous, one of the 

 earliest to come into flower, and a continuous and profuse bloomer. 

 Strong roots, 15 cents each ; $1.50 per dozen ; $12. co per 100. 



FANCY DAHLIA, LOTTIE ECKFORD 



Twelve Choice Double Pompon Dahlias. 



Catherine. A well formed primrose yellow. 



Darkness. Deep velvety maroon. 



Elegante. Soft pink, tipped deep pink; reflex light pink. 



Kleine Domitea. Orange buff; always in flower. 



Little Bessie. Creamy white, quilled petals. 



Little Herman. Deep carmine, shaded garnet ; tipped white. 



Little Naiad. White, tipped amaranth red. 



La Petit Jean. Beautiful rich plum color. 



Rosalie. Lemon yellow, tipped solferino. 



Red Piper. Beautiful deep red of fine form. 



Snowclad. Unquestionably the finest white. 



Sunshine. Brilliant scarlet of fine form. 



10 cts. each ; $1.00 per dozen ; $8.00 per 100. 

 The set of 12 varieties for $1.00. 



New Century Single Dahlias. 



These magnificent single varieties all originated from the celebrated 

 Twentieth Century offered in this set. They are of free branching 

 habit, flower early, profusely and continuously throughout the sea- 

 son, producing flowers from 4H to 6 inches in diameter on stems 3-£.eet 

 long, which after being cut keep in good condition for many days. 

 Crimson Century. Rich, deep, velvety crimson, shaded maroon, 

 with rose halo around a yellow disc. 20 cts. each; $2.00 per doz.; 

 $15.00 per 100. 

 Scarlet Century. A brilliant rich scarlet with golden disc. 35 cts. 



each ; $3.50 per doz. 

 Lavender Century. Delicate lilac with light shadings, very pretty. 



40_cts. each ; $4.00 per doz. 

 White Century. Pure white with large heavy overlapping petal of 



good texture. 40 cts. each; $4.00 per doz. 

 Twentieth Century. Early in the season, intense rosy crimson 

 shading, gradually to almost white on the edges and a light halo 

 around the disc, as the season advances the flowers become lighter, 

 changing to almost a pure white, suffused with soft pink ; not varie- 

 gated but blended in the most beautiful manner. 15 cts. each; $1.50 

 per doz.; $10.00 per 100. 



One each of the set of 5 New Century Dahlias for $1.25. 



Collection of New and Standard Single Dahlias. 



Alba Superba. (New'.) Fine large pure white, with a dash of 

 canary yellow at base of petal ; fine for cut flowers. 20 cents each ; 

 $2.00 per doz. ; $15.00 per 100. 



Advancement. (New.) Fine deep ruby-red with rose halo and 

 yellow centre. 20 cents each ; $2.00 per dozen ; $15.00 per 100. 



Ami Barrilet. Rich pure garnet, very free flowering. 



Blackbird. Black velvety maroon, with a bright red spot at the base 

 of each petal. 



Fashion. Crimson-maroon with darker shadings. 



(iracie. (New.) White, delicately suffused with blush and a prim- 

 rose yellow halo around the orange yellow disc; a soft beautiful 

 color; 20 cents each; $2.00 per dozen; $15.00 per 100. 



Mrs. Bowman. Solferino a large showy flower. 



Polly Eccles. Pure apricot with yellow shadings, a halo of poppy 

 red surrounding the indian yellow disc. 



Snow Queen. Creamy white. 



St. George. A pretty primrose yellow of large size. 



Striking. (New.) Deep garnet, each petal with a white spot on the 

 tip. Really a single-flowering form of the double fancy variety, 

 Frank Smith. 25 cents each ; $2.50 per dozen ; $18.00 per 100. 



Wildfire. Brilliant poppy-scarlet, of large size. 

 Price : Except where noted 70 cts. each; $1.00 per doz ; $8.00 per 100. 

 One each of the 12 varieties for $1.50. 



Twelve Choice Fancy Dahlias. 



Admiral Schley. Rich crimson red with garnet edges and a broad 



band of white through the centre of each petal. 

 Chameleon. Flesh colored centre, shading to crushed strawberry, 



with yellow blending ; a very variable flower of good form. 

 Eloise. White, tinted flesh, each petal edged with deep purplish 



garnet. 

 Fern=leaved Beauty. White, each petal edged with deep carmine 



red. 

 Lucy Fawcett. Sulphur yellow, striped and spotted carmine rose. 

 Lottie Eckford. White, striped and spotted with French purple. 

 Mrs. Stancombe. Straw-yellow, suffused amber, striped red and 



mottled aud tipped blush. 

 Olympia. Bright rose-pink, striped, spotted and penciled with rich 



crimson. 

 Progress. Soft rosy-lake, beautifully spotted and penciled with glow- 

 ing crimson ; entirely distinct. 

 Penelope. White flaked and tinted mauve, of beautiful form. 

 Striped Banner. Cardinal red with broad white stripe through the 



centre of each petal. 

 Thos. Wescott. Bright fiery-red, tipped white; very profuse. 



15 cts. each ; $1.50 per doz. ; $10.00 per 100. 

 ' The set of 12 varieties for $1.50. 



SINGLE DAHLIA, TWENTIETH CENTURY 



