GREETING 
TO OXTR NUMERODS P"H1J5NDS THROUGPfOUT THE UNITED STATES, 
HAWAII, AEAS1s:A, CANADA, CENTRAE AMERICA, JAPAN AND 
ENGLAND. 
You are so widely scattered that only once a year, and in this way, 
IS It possible to address you personally and thank you for your many kind 
ietters and generous orders. 
Nothing- gives us more pleaisure than to know othei's are successfully 
growing- our dahlias. Sometimes we are a.sked why we do not publish 
your letters as testimonials in our catalog-ues. We answer that we prefer to 
devote the catalogue exclusively to dahlias as we feel sure that our patrons 
all are enthusiastic in praise of tlie Boston Dahlia Farm, and therefore 
our best advertising- factor.^ and many of our California customers, with 
whom we come into contact frequently, tell u.s that most of their prize 
winning blossoms have been grown from our stock. 
Many of you doubtless have seen the filmed picture of our garden in 
your favorite theatre. The Prizina |)icture was taken in summer two years 
ago, but not released until early this year. It portrays faithfully the gar- 
den and its riot of blossoms, though it cannot fully convey to your percep- 
tion the beauty and gorgeous coloring- of the flowers. 
We were the leading prize winner at the San Francisco Dahlia Show 
last fall, and were awarded the gold medal for the most meritorious ex- 
hibit. This prize was given to the exhibitor winning the greatest number 
of points. We took sixteen prizes with eighteen entries and many of 
them were ttrst award.s. We again won the gold medal for the bo.- t 
fifty blooms, a floral victory of which we are justly iiroud. The decorative 
dahlia, the Mabel H. Taft, captured this prize for us. Mrs. Samuel H. Taf:, 
president of the Cincinnati Garden Club, had offered a most attractive 
prize — an exquisite Rookwood vase, for the best new dahlia not h ei nio -r 
exhibited. We won this troijhy with a beautiful pink decorative blossom 
which has been named Rookwood, with the consent of the well known 
pottery company. 
Our greatest source of pride, however, was a request from Queen Eliza- 
beth of Belgium for tubers from our farm for the roval gardens Dahlias 
had been used exclusively for the table decorations at the luncheon given to 
the gracious tjueen by the women of San Francisco, and we supplied the 
blossoms. The royal visitor's appreciation of the exquisite blooms resulted 
in the large order we received for shipment to Belgium. 
Owing- to the increased business of the farm last fall, several of the new 
varieties have been disposed of entirely. Varieties not listed in this catalogue 
have been sold, discontinued, or are being held for next year for larger stock. 
All growers have suffered from o ver- |)r opagated European stock and for 
this reason we do not propagate to any extent. We prefer to retain a 
uahlia until it is four or five years old, in preference to obtaining a big- 
.supply of roots from g-reen plants. Apropos of European dahlias: A new 
government quarantine law prevents their importation. But California 
g-ro-svers who had been heavy importers of that stock had practical Iv ceased 
h lying- it before the new law went into effect for it is generally kndwn that 
the best dahlias have their origin in California. 
Each year we buy the best of the new Californians, but do not catalogue 
1hcm until we have grown them and feel sure that we are iustKicd In recom- 
mending them. 
'I'he great topic of the day, discussed wherever men and women fore- 
gather, is the High cost of living. Yet, though the cost of about everything 
has risen, the [jrice of the dahlia, with a very few exceptions has re- 
mained at its normal level. The older varieties are sold at the same prices 
m'evaiiing last season. The exceptions are a few choice varieties, which 
are offered at a verv slight increase in price. They are our latest intro- 
ductions, choicer dahlias than anv heretofore listed and were in great de- 
mand by natrons who visited the garden. The ]n-ices for the newest dahlia.s 
t'ahlias of quality, always are regulated by the amount of stock we can 
supi'l.\-. 
It mav interest iiatr-ons and other lovei-s of dahlias to be informed that 
we have enlarged our dahlia growing area about one-third. 
Foriiicrly Bo.snU Ro.slon. 
0!{OI<'IJ T'LVIJ I,-*' — lOarly orders are solicited to iirevent disappointment in 
ease the variety desired should be sold. 
l''Olt.W.\|{nii\<; — "We begin to ship our tubers from Februar.\- Isl. unless 
(iiherwise ordered. We preiiay all retail orders when accompanhxl by cash. 
(arAUANTICK — We guarantee that nil dahlia, tubers or plants sent are 
true to name. 
SFFSTITITTION — We do not substitute unless expressly noted, or bv pcr- 
•■iissuin- but it Is well to mention a few varieties that you are willing to 
iKivo substituted should some of those selected by you be sola out. 
rmt'K.- — The following- prices are for lield grown divided tubers. 
('■ I'l/r-riMO, — Dahlias can be planted from March until .lulv. In everv box 
we shi ), we enclose full directions for growing, 
Vlsrroi!S — Are always welcome at our farm, especially in blossom time. 
I.OCATIOIV — The farm is located on the State Hig-hwav, near Tilton a-r- 
nne. S;in .Mateo. Take car at l<'inh and Market streets, S:i n P'rancl«co- (.--('f elf 
a' TiMon iivenue: \y:\\]i (wo bloclis vvi'st. 
