SINGLE AND DECORATIVE DAHLIAS. 



17 



high, covered early and continuously with large substantial 

 flowers of brilliant colours. 



As cut flowers, perhaps Dahlias of the true Cactus type are 

 the most valuable ; next, the Singles ; and then the Pompons. 

 It has sometimes been said that Single Dahlias are too fugitive to 

 be of value for cutting, but this is by no means the case if they 

 are cut in the proper state. People who complain of Single 

 Dahlias falling as soon as cut are generally those who cut the 

 flowers without much regard to the time they have been expanded, 

 or to their condition at the time of cutting. In this matter the 

 central disk affords absolutely reliable information : if the 

 flowers are cut before the central or disk florets have begun to 

 shed their pollen, they will last admirably in water : and, in fact, 

 exhibitors of Single Dahlias do not need to take " spare " blooms 

 with them when travelling to a show, so long as the bunches 

 can be secured from rubbing against each other or the sides of 

 the box in transit, as flowers cut young never shatter even with 

 the shaking incident to a long railway journey. 



In selecting Dahlias of whatever class for the purpose of 

 affording a supply of cut flowers, it is of vital importance to 

 secure varieties whose flowers are stiff-stemmed, so that the 

 blooms may remain erect when placed in water, and not, from 

 the weakness of their stalks, tumble about in all directions in 

 the vases. So important is this point that it would probably be 

 found a useful plan if exhibitors of Decorative Dahlias of any 

 class, whether Single, Pompon, or Cactus, were required to stage, 

 in addition to the usual bunches, at least several unwired 

 blooms. 



During recent years, and especially during the past season, 

 in addition to growing thousands of plants, very careful note has 

 been taken, in visiting the nurseries of leading Dahlia-growers, of 

 the most conspicuous varieties in each section ; and taking into 

 consideration also the varieties exhibited at the exhibition of the 

 National Dahlia Society at the Crystal Palace, at the meetings 

 of the Eoyal Horticultural Society ; of the National Chrysan- 

 themum Society, and at the present Conference, lists have been 

 prepared, which it may be of interest to give, of the best and 

 most reliable kinds of Single, Pompon, Cactus, and Decorative 

 Dahlias. It will not be worth while to give the description of 



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