340 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



As an instance of the difficulty now confronting a judge let us 

 suppose there are three stands of Cactus Dahlias. In one of them the 

 flowers are all of medium size, all perfect in form and colour, without 

 blemish, and nicely set up. In another stand the flowers are considerably 

 larger, but not so good in form, and like those in the other stand are well 

 Bet up. In another stand the flowers are large and good, but very badly 

 set up. Now we have at present no authority, no instructions to guide 

 us as to what order the awards here should take, and it is easy to conceive 

 that one judge would decide in one way and another in another way ; but 

 with a given set of rules the judging of them would present no serious 

 difficulty, and the decision would create no discontent. 



Having now spoken of the difficulty, and I hope made it clear that 

 there is a need for some code for judging Cactus Dahlias, some authori- 

 tative guide for the work, I proceed to offer a few suggestions which, 

 if the societies think fit, might, when Dahlias are to be judged, with 

 advantage supplement the general rules for judging which I believe are 

 issued by the Royal Horticultural Society. 



When competition is in any way keen it is generally admitted that the 

 best means of judging is by points, allowing so many to each flower or 

 set of flowers, as the case may be ; and this is the only plan feasible, I think, 

 in the case of the Dahlia. Now if we examine the good properties of 

 a I hihlia as set up for exhibition, we shall find that all of them may be 

 classed under four heads, namely, form, size, colour, and the setting up. 



Although the first of these is perhaps the one which presents the 

 greatest difficulty, good form, it must be granted, is decidedly the most 

 important feature in any flower, be it a Dahlia, a Rose, or any other of 

 the flowers which so frequently grace an exhibition table. Might it not 

 be almost said that our very presence here to-day would seem to point to 

 the encouragement of good form in the Dahlia ? I would therefore suggest 

 that to this very important feature the highest number of points be 

 accorded. 



As to what is good form in a Cactus Dahlia, I consider it should have 

 long and narrow florets, either straight or incurved, and that they fold 

 ack at the edges towards the under side of the flower, so as to present as 

 small a surface as possible to the front of the flower ; the florets should 

 graduate evenly and without a break from the outside right to the very 

 re, which should of course be perfectly closed. There should be an 

 entire absence of flat florets, and the dome or central base, that part of 

 the flower which would eventually form the seed-head, should not be over 

 large, or it gives the flower a heavy, inelegant finish. Good form should 

 also include the natural bent of the particular variety ; for instance, if an 

 incurved flower like 'Gabriel' were shown partaking of the form of, shall 

 we say, 4 .1. W. Wilkinson,' or vice versa, the flower should lose points in 

 consequence. 



Bo much for good form. The second good property I mentioned was 

 i/« . This is ill ways admitted to be a very important feature ; but it ought 

 not, I think, to take precedence of good form, and if the flower be un- 

 naturally large, coarse, and ungainly, it should not be accorded the full 

 Dumber of points for size. Full number should only be given to bold 

 flower of L'ooil i/< mid texture and free from coarseness. 



