338 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. apbil 27, 1912 



GIANT DECORATIVE 



DAHLIAS. 



This section or type of garden dahlia, 

 whk'h is sometimes referred to as the 

 • Douzon type, originated in France ; and 

 most of the varieties, judging by their 

 naniCvS, were raised in that country. 



Although of such immense size^ the 

 blooms are not by any means coai-se ; and, 

 what is very important for garden decoru- 



less stature. There is another side to their 

 value, and that is for cutting. The long, 

 stiff stems enable the giant decorative dah- 

 lias to be used extensively for large vases. 

 A dozen flowers and buds of the variety 

 Souvenir de Gustave Douzon, with 30in. 

 stems, in a large vase, would be difficult to 

 surpass, when a bold effect is <lesired. 



No trouble is experienced in the propa- 

 gation of the giant decorative dahlias; in 

 fact, the old stools, when placed in heat, 

 produce cuttings more freely than most sec- 



pleading shade of orange-red. The blooms 

 are well formed, and borne erect, with 

 plenty of sul>stance in the broad petals. 



Le Colosse.— This is a very large, .showT 

 variety^ with broad petals. The plants are 

 vigorous, the red flowers being borne well 

 above the foliage. 



Yellow Colosse. — A useful (.ompnnion 

 plant to the foregoing, with bright yellow 

 flowers. Tliese, a,s will be seen from the 

 illustration, are similar in form and size to 

 the red variety. 



DAHLIA ATlTiACnON. 



A remarkably handsome giant decorative variety, the blooms of large size and of a deep crimson-maroon colour, with light rose 



coloured tips to the florets. Raised by Mr. C. Turner, Slough. 



tion, the flowers are borne on long, stiff 

 stems, well above the foliage. In profusion 

 of flowering and continuity these giant- 

 flowered sorts equal the best of the cactus 

 section. As they are particularly vigorous 

 in growth, a few plants w^ill suffice in small 

 gardens, but in large public parks and pri- 

 vate establishments these varieties should 

 i>e grown in quantity for massing. Being 

 tall in groM th, they may be plante<:l in wide 

 shrubbery borders, in large grouj^s of one 

 variety or as a background for varieties of 



ason^ from cutting;s, thi 



tions. In one 



flowers are not only gigantic, but the tul>ers 

 as well. 



Varieties. 



Souvenir de (Uistave Douzon. 



blooms of this dahlia are truly gigantic. 

 Some six or seven years ago, when n{)t so 

 well known, a large l)ed containing up- 

 w^ards of one hundred plants of this variety 

 at Kew, cieated quite a sensation among 

 the visitors. In good soil the plants grow 

 Oft. to 7ft. in height. The colour is a 



Jeanne Cluirmet. 

 tion of colours, lilac-pink 



A charming combina- 



the edges 



at 



shading to white in the centre of the flowej_ 



with a vellow shade at the base ot i 



^ r^. „ lo.fTP alio 



The petals. ^ The flowers are very large, 



freely produced on long, stiff stalks 



Madame Van Der Dael.— A pi'^"^';,X :w 

 of silvery.pink best describes the well-D" 



Papa Charmet. 



ith 



flowers of this variety. 



-An effective variety 1 



The pet«f 



led. 



4 



4. 



large crimson-maroon blooms, 

 are broad, and prettily crimpetl or cu 



