512 
THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA 
can or does find the true name, distributes some stock- 
under the false one, and so gives this name a standing 
in the Dahlia world to which it has no right. 
It is even suggested that some Dahlia growers, more 
pushing than scrupulous, have thought that, since "A 
rose by any other name would smell as sweet," it could 
do the flower no harm and might aid in working off the 
stock of some languishing variety if the old name were 
dropped and one a little more atractive selected. 
Sometimes names are duplicated purely by accident, 
as Kielia. written hastily, looks very like Kulia, and so 
has appeared in this way in print or in written lists. So, 
also Meravigalla has masqueraded as Merongalla, Bessie 
Palisser as Bessie Palsifer, and Indianerin as Inderianna ; 
while Prince of Denmark, abbreviated as Pr. of Den- 
mark, lias finally passed into pretty good Dahlia society 
as Prof. Denmark. 
These are a few of the ways in which the list of Dahlia 
names has become unnecessarily burdened and their 
application made uncertain. As the first step toward re- 
form the Nomenclature Committee would be glad to 
know of all instances of these or similar errors; so that 
they may be included in a complete list of current Dahlia 
names now in preparation. With this list as a basis and 
with some opportunity for the members of the commit- 
tee to study most of these varieties collected in a few- 
places for comparison, it is believed that the number of 
names could be profitably cut from the 5,000 or more 
now listed to one-third or one-fourth of this number. 
Certainly that number of varieties would give ample op- 
portunitv to gratify even' taste. Only united, heartv 
support by the individual members of the society will 
make such reduction possible. — The Gardeners' Magazine 
(English.). 
MICHAELMAS DAISIES 
T OFFER no apology for referring to this beautiful 
class of plants, as, when properly treated and the 
most desirable varieties cultivated, I know of no hardy 
plants which give more pleasure during the closing days 
of summer and the early days of autumn. My first 
love for them, which is now many ears since, has never 
waned in the slightest, but, on the other hand, increased 
year by year writes Edwin Beckett in The Garden 
(English). 
I was first impressed by them by seeing a collection 
which was formed by the late Mr. J. Gray in his garden, 
now known as The Firs, Claygate, and which w^as well 
grown by the late Mr. J. Child, his gardener. He had 
practically, then, all the best species and varieties, and 
a narrow border was devoted to them. I came to the 
conclusion that there were great possibilities for their 
future, and I was determined to do my best to effect an 
improvement by crossing and hybridizing the many 
varieties and species. I think I can claim to have done 
something in this direction, with many others who have 
also had this object in view. 
To see these at their best, a border or piece of ground 
should be devoted to them, and having once decided on 
the site, they may be successfully grown on the same spot 
for an indefinite number of years, provided thev are taken 
up, parted and replanted annually, early spring' being 
the best time for this operation. The ground should be 
deeply tilled and a liberal supply of half-decayed manure 
incorporated at the time. Any aspect will suit them, and, 
so far as I know, they will thrive well in any locality and 
in any soil. The place we selected for them here at Alden- 
ham is facing east, and we have grown them in the same 
position for nearly thirty vears. 
A certain amount of care should be exercised in. 
arranging the heights and colors of the various species 
and varieties, and by so doing one is able to produce a 
different effect each season. 
The plants should be staked out, and the growths not 
required thinned out in the early season, especially with 
the more vigorous-growing varieties, and, except attend- 
ing to the necessary tying and hoeing, very little further 
attention is required except during spells of very dry 
weather, when the plants should be copiously watered 
and the growths damped over during the evening after 
very hot days. 
Some of the more delicate varieties, such as the cordi- 
folius section, should be taken up, potted and placed in 
a cold frame during the winter months, and planted out 
in the spring. Over-crowding should be avoided. We 
allow a distance of 4 feet from plant to plant and 3 feet 
6 inches between the rows. By so doing, the varieties 
are given full opportunity of displaying their habits,, 
manv of which are most graceful and beautiful. 
Hybridizing and raising new seedlings is a very inter- 
esting study, but care should always be taken to eradi- 
cate all which show no signs of improvement on existing 
varieties. 
For the guidance of intending cultivators I append a 
list of the most desirable varieties grown here, with their 
approximate heights and colors. The Amellus section, 
of which there are many beautiful varieties, should be 
grown apart from the main collection, as should also 
acris, which is a verv beautiful early flowering variety. 
I ariety. t Color, 
*Tradescanti White 
King Edward VII Bright mauve 3 
Comeliness Azure blue 4 
Grey Dawn Grev blue 3 
1 lecorator Small white 3 
Lovelv Pale mauve 2 
Esther Pale pink 2 
Vimineus Elfin Pale lavender 4 
Aldebaran Bright blue 3 
Cinderella Pale blue 4 
Desire White 3 
Little Boy Blue Blue 4 
Little Bo-Peep Blue 4 
Starshower Small white 3 
Delight White, changing to pink 3 
Paragon Deep lavender 4 
Bianca White 4 
White Diana I.ilac 4 
Goldfinch Creamy white 4 
Twilight Bluish white 3 
T-ady Lloyd Very deep pirk 4 
f Daydream Pale lavender 4 
JSirius Bright pink 5 
Blue Beard Blue 6 
Grace Greenish white 4 
Turbinellus albos Grey whit:- 5 
§Glory of Colwall Lavender 5 
Climax Blue 6 
Hon. Edith Gibbs Lavender 5 
5 
6 
6 
5 
6 
6 
6 
6 
4 
5 
4 
6 
3 
Height. 
Ft. In. 
4 6 
Avalanche White 
I ouvain Pink 
.Mrs. F. Rayner Crimson . 
Amethyst Blue .... 
I il Fardell Crimson . . 
Purple Prince Purple ... 
William Bowman Purple . . . 
Oueen of the Belgians Dark blue 
Cordifolius nanus Blue 
[IBrightest and Best Magenta . 
Edwin Beckett Blue . . . . 
FKing of the Belgians Pale blue 
JPeggy Ballard Rosy lilac 
* Very la"e flowerr-e variety. '■ Early flowering variety, i Semi-double. 
^ Double. \.w semi-double. S New. 
OUR COVER ILLUSTRATION. 
The subject of our cover illustration is the orchid 
group arranged by William Kleinheinz, gardener to 
the P. A. B. AYidener Estate, at the annual exhibition 
of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society in Philadel- 
phia last month. This group proved the main attrac- 
tion of the show and was much admired by the visitors. 
In addition to the first prize, a gold medal was 
awarded it. 
