142 



On Dahlias. 



it would have induced some rjractical Horticulturist to apply 

 his skill to their improvement. 



A few of the Double Dahlias which were raised at an early 

 period still hold a place in the estimation of gardeners, but in 

 general those of a few years standing have yielded their places 

 to a younger progeny, which in their turn may be deprived of 

 their station by fresh productions. In the progress of im- 

 provement, it may be hereafter a matter of curiosity to ascer- 

 tain what was considered a good Dahlia at the present period ; 

 this, without a record such as this Paper will furnish, would be 

 impossible. Thus we may indulge the hope that in drawing up 

 descriptions of the best flowers of the present day, we are not 

 only amusing contemporary readers, but securing information 

 to futurity. 



The collection of Double Dahlias in the Garden of the 

 Horticultural Society at Chiswick has always been extensive. 

 In the autumn of 1825, descriptions of those which were 

 thought most worthy of record, were made by Mr. Joseph 

 Paxton, then Under Gardener in the Arboretum Depart- 

 ment, and now Gardener to His Grace the Duke of Devon- 

 shire, at Chatsworth, in Derbyshire. The publication of 

 those descriptions having been deferred, in order to gain the 

 experience of another season, the task of completing the 

 Paper devolved upon me, as his successor. In addition to 

 those which were described last year by Mr. Paxton, some 

 varieties, not only of considerable excellence but with novel- 

 ties of character, which were since added to the collection, 

 have enabled me to make the classification more perfect. 

 The number of the collection in the commencement of the 

 present season considerably exceeded one hundred ; this has 



