and stem are not so critically drawn. Many 
of the shorter-stemmed varieties, variegated 
colors and neutral shades may be profitably 
used here. 
The show and fancy types, so popular a 
generation ago, seem to have reached the 
limit of their possibilities. It is the cactus 
and decorative varieties, but more especially 
the cactus, which has caused the present 
popular favor, and yet it is plainly evident 
that the show and fancy types will still 
hold their places for many years to come. 
There is a real worth back of them not yet 
found in some of the new varieties even 
though popular. 
The first cactus dahlia originated in 1872, 
but was not placed upon the market until 
1880. It seems to have been a chance seed- 
ling, but may be a separate species. The 
original specimen was a bright scarlet of 
fine form but very short stem, but was never- 
theless a very welcome addition, and I 
adopted it as the central figure of my trade 
mark. It was introduced under the name of 
Juarezi, after Pres. Juarez, of Mexico, and 
is still listed in some of the catalogues. 
From this chance plant there has descended 
a mighty troop that has held the center 
of the dahlia stage for the past twenty years, 
and the type is still showing marked im- 
provement each year. Where it will end no 
one can say. The type embraces all the 
colors of the other types, in size from a small 
pompon to a diameter of seven inches, some 
with petals as narrow as a blade of grass, 
giving the flower more the appearance of a 
chrysanthemum than a dahlia. At first the 
type was deficient in stems, they being either 
short and stiff or thin and weakly, but in 
recent years much improvement has been 
made, and there are a goodly number now 
with fine stems, twelve to eighteen inches 
long, which hold the flower quite erect. And 
while the stem is under discussion, let me 
say that some of the weak-stemmed varieties, 
while useless as a cut flower, are yet very 
valuable for garden plants. The drooping 
stem permits the flower to swing free of the 
plant, and when combined with the dark 
green foliage presents a picture of wonder- 
ful grace not seen in the more erect-grow- 
ing plants. 
For cutting purposes I can not say that 
the cactus dahlias are at present a success, 
taking them as a whole, although there are 
some varieties that are simply grand, but 
speaking of them as a class they have a 
tendency to wilt too quickly, excepting in 
the late fall, when the flowers develop slow- 
ly; then nearly all the varieties are good. 
Neither are the single varieties in favor 
as cut flowers. They stand up well, but 
drop their petals too soon. I make an excep- 
tion, however, of Twentieth Century, which 
is as remarkable for keeping as it is in 
other respects. This one is decidedly the 
best of the singles in general use. 
A question of much importance to both 
amateur and professional is the selection of 
varieties. Were there but a few dozen to 
select from it would not be difficult, but 
such is not the case, and a serious fault lies 
at the door of the commercial grower who 
holds with one hand to the old varieties 
and reaches with the .other for the new 
ones, with the result that the prospective 
purchaser is bewildered with a possible se- 
lection of 1,500 varieties, all claimed to he 
good. One European grower who sends me 
his 1905 list, names 697 varieties; another 
67G. In the latter list I find 326 cactus 
varieties, and of these 135 are some shade 
of red. Surely it can not be claimed that 
all these varieties are necessary. Surely 
among the 135 reds there must he some 
that are very inferior to others; and if 
inferior, why not discard them and shorten 
the list? I venture the opinion that if 
thirty-five of the best reds were -taken out, 
the remaining 100 would be a rather in- 
ferior looking lot. Years ago I recommend- 
ed, through the trade press, cutting down the 
list, but without result. In the past twenty 
years I have tested fully 1,000 named vari- 
eties, but now have less than 200 and my 
list is still too long. 
As a rule I think the purchaser, unless he 
is familiar with the varieties, will do well 
to leave the selection to the grower, simply 
naming the colors wanted and stating the 
use to which they are to be put. If the 
grower or dealer is honest, and all dahlia 
growers are supposed to be, he will do his 
best to please. 
The dahlia has always been notorious for 
sportive habits, and many and curious are 
the freaks to be seen. This is not only true 
of variegated varieties, but often appearing 
amon.g varieties supposed to be quite staid 
and fixed in their colors. Some of the fancy 
varieties are very popular because of this 
wide variance in color, which keeps the 
grower guessing what is coming next. B\it 
while sports are common as stated above, yet 
all attempts to fix a sport into a new variety 
have been fruitless, for sooner or later they 
return to the parent color." 
A FEW WORDS TO AMATEURS 
See that your garden is well dug and the soil in good condition before planting. 
And if possible, select a sunny situation. 
In planting lay the tuber flat on its siie and cover to a depth of four inches. 
After the plants appear keep the soil nice and mellow by frequent hoeing, and per- 
mit no weed or grass to grow in the bed. 
Be moderate in the use of both water and manure, or the plants will run too much 
to foliage. 
Before hard freezing, cut the tops a few inches above the ground and dig carefully, 
after which they should be stored away in a cellar secure from frost. Some recommend 
packing in sand, others use leaves, and some no packing at all. 
