THE DAHLIA. 



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THE DAHLIA. 

 By J. B. Riding, F.R.H.S. 



[Read September 14, 1915 ; Dr. F. Keeble, F.R.S., in the Chair.] 



The Dahlia is undoubtedly the brightest flower we have during the 

 autumn months in our gardens ; in fact, few flowers can vie with it 

 for brilliancy of colouring, and certainly no other can be cultivated 

 more easily. Yet in spite of this the Dahlia is not the popular flower 

 to-day that its merits deserve. I feel I am quite safe in saying that 

 the modern dahlia is practically unknown to the general public. 

 It rarely receives any attention in large private gardens, and it is 

 still somewhat neglected in our public parks and gardens. True, 

 in the latter places there is evidence that the plant is becoming more 

 appreciated, and I venture to state that it will be more largely 

 employed in the near future. 



The Dahlia has suffered ever since it was first introduced into the 

 country by falling into the hands of florists and exhibitors, and I 

 feel sure in my own mind this has been the reason why the Dahlia 

 has never risen, or at all events to any extent, in the estimation of 

 garden-lovers. Even to-day there are hundreds of garden-owners 

 who shrug their shoulders at the very mention of Dahlias. Why ? 

 Simply because their knowledge does not extend beyond the flower 

 show, and they have no idea of the many beautiful forms that are 

 rarely, if ever, seen at a Dahlia exhibition, while others, and their 

 names must be legion, have purchased their Dahlias at exhibitions 

 where they have been displayed in wire frames ; the following season 

 they have been planted in the garden, and beyond a mass of greenery 

 they produced no further effect. 



I have said that the Dahlia has suffered considerably in consequence 

 of the florist's art. You will remember, no doubt, in the first case our 

 old florists paid the utmost attention to doubling the flower, but, not 

 satisfied with this, they commenced, and soon succeeded in, producing 

 large double flowers, almost as round as a cricket ball, and just as 

 formal. These handsome flowers were much too stiff and formal for 

 modern taste, so that their cultivation really never passed beyond 

 the pale of the florist and exhibitor. With the advent of Dahlia 

 Juarezii with its freer form, which conformed more with the taste 

 of the age, the Dahlia appeared to be saved from oblivion. Here 

 again our florists and exhibitors stepped in and commenced to 

 improve the type according to their ideas, but they paid no 

 attention whatever to the habit of the plant. It must, how- 

 ever, be admitted that our raisers have evolved some wonderful 



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