SINGLE AND DECORATIVE DAHLIAS. 



21 



raise new varieties take much pleasure in watching the changes 

 which take place. And when we have a number of seedlings 

 what a pleasure it is to go out and inspect them in the hope of 

 something new turning up. At the same time he would not 

 recommend everyone to go in for the raising of seedling Dahlias, 

 for, as Mr. Girdlestone observed, an enormous number must be 

 raised before a few good varieties are obtained. There is great 

 variety in the different types of Dahlias, and cultivators are 

 mostly aiming at certain definite objects. In the Cactus varieties 

 we want the points of the petals drawn out more, but in the 

 Singles it is our object to obtain just the opposite — the petals 

 more flat and rounded at the point, and overlapping each other. 

 He thought there was still a great future in store for Dahlia- 

 growers, and there was plenty of room for work in developing 

 these fine flowers. 



SHOW DAHLIAS. 



By Mr. Walter H. Williams, F.R.H.S. 



Since the centenary of the Dahlia last year so much has been 

 said and written on the Show Dahlia that I trust you will pardon 

 me if I wander over somewhat the same ground, and, after all, 

 give you very little information that can be considered new. 



Perhaps the only line of thought which has not been so fully 

 discussed with regard to this flower, is, the Show Dahlia from 

 an aesthetic point of view. Is it essentially beautiful ? For 

 my own part I find in the perfect development of a noble flower 

 a different hind of pleasure, though not one less intense, than I 

 derive from a single flower, provided, of course, that its colour is 

 artistic and full of harmony. In nature and in art we find many 

 different kinds of true beauty. Because we admire the simple 

 loveliness of the fertile valley, we do not condemn the rugged 

 vastness of the barren mountain gorge. Each has its own 

 peculiar charm. So is it with the Dahlia. In the single flower 

 we have the charm of simplicity; in the double the intense com- 

 plex perfections which lead us into realms of delightful wonder. 



We admire not only the result but the skill and patience of 

 the man who has chiselled out of the rude rock a form divine 

 whose lovely lines and curves give ravishment to the eye. So 



