DESCRIPTIVE FLOWER LISTS. — THE DAHLIA. 
M 
sible that anything which is always alike can 
excite strong interest. Culture has much to 
do with the condition of a flower ; but all the 
culture in the world cannot make it certain, 
and hence the charm of cultivating. It is our 
object here to describe some of the prin- 
cipal Dahlias already in cultivation, and to 
give a list of the new ones, with such notices 
as the occasional appearance of some of them 
enables us to annex. In estimating those 
already in cultivation there will be little dif- 
ficulty in giving an opinion. They will, from our 
description, be easily recognised by those who 
know them, and their value estimated by those 
who do not know them; for the properties are 
pretty well understood by most persons, 
though they may not all thrust themselves for- 
ward as judges. It is to be recollected that 
the leading faults in the Dahlia of the present 
day's taste is extreme doubleness, which pre- 
vents the petals from developing themselves 
in perfection. They fold round and form, tubes, 
open at one end, or quills, which scarcely open 
at all ; in both these cases there is a want of 
form. The face of the flower is confused with 
the backs of the petals, which are of a dull 
colour ; there is no imbrication ; there is a 
vacancy between them, caused by their fold- 
ing up into a narrower space than they would 
have occupied had they fairly and freely 
opened, and the outline of the flower, as well 
as the face, is confused. These flowers are 
uncertain, because, although they are show- 
able, and are frequently shown in that state, 
they detract much from the stand in which 
they are placed. There is nothing more 
offensive in a Dahlia' than the showing of the 
backs of the petals, which are always worse 
and more dull-coloured than the fronts, and 
entirely destroy the beauty and symmetry of 
the flower. But these very Dahlias, which 
are so offensive generally, and throw their 
petals in tubes or quills, are so beautiful 
when they happen to open freely, which in 
some seasons they will, that then nothing sur- 
passes them. There is another singular fault 
in Dahlias, and it arises from the nature of the 
properties laid down; the eye, or centre, should 
be up to the surface. Now, the petals, to 
form a good centre, have to lean inwards, and 
join the tips together in the middle ; every 
row of petals has to rise and open, if they do 
not absolutely turn back. Unless, therefore, 
the petals are short, their rising and opening 
leaves the unbloomed ones sunk down, and 
thus creates one of the fatal blemishes; but 
such flowers come now and then, and give 
us a full and compact eye at the same time. 
Dahlias, however, require unchecked growth. 
They should not be exposed to north and east 
winds ; they should never be watered without 
having it all over their foliage ; and nothing 
so contributes to keep them from tin i j » and 
insects in general as .syringing them with u 
garden-engine, with ;i fine rose to dispi rse 
the water in .small particles, but with some 
force. To grow them through hot weather, 
without often wetting their leaves, is distress- 
ing, and the ground should be soaked all over 
instead of at the roots. By these means, used 
in time, they flourish almost as much as with 
so much rain, and the flowers will grow full 
and double. The collection that we should 
recommend would comprise about sixty or 
seventy kinds of the present sorts, and such 
only of the new ones as come out in May. 
We take them as their names casually come 
across us, and not with any particular arrange- 
ment. 
Queen (Widnall). — A very double lilac rose. 
So double, that it is apt to quill and show 
the backs of the petals ; but when in perfec- 
tion a splendid flower, very symmetrical at all 
times, and exceedingly showy in a stand. 
Sir Frederick Johnston (Hillier). — A use- 
ful flower of dark puce colour ; compact, and 
generally very full and double ; rather sunk 
in the eye occasionally, but useful. 
Mrs. Shelley. — A very useful and delicate 
rose-coloured flower, full average size, and 
well up in the face ; it has not a bad outline, 
and may be reckoned among the constant 
show flowers that grace a stand. 
Vivid. — Probably as good a scarlet Dahlia 
as we have at all ; always respectable in a 
stand, and frequently taking first prizes in the 
scarlet class ; it has all the good points in a 
moderate, though none in a first-rate, degree. 
Indispensable. — A very handsome dark 
rose, every way fit for a stand, well up in the 
centre, and tolerable good outline. 
Argo (Widnall). — Bright yellow petals, 
very much cupped, and therefore rather open, 
each petal forming in rather a funnel shape ; 
for colour it is very good ; size average. 
Defiance (Cox). — Paler yellow ; rather 
compact and good centre ; outline middling ; 
petals rather inclined to reflex than other- 
wise, but occasionally very good. 
AdmiralStopford (Trenfield). — Fine black, 
well-formed variety, of average size ; very 
double ; excellent outline, and the finest in 
its class. 
Essex Triumph (Turvills). — Black bold 
flower, must be grown the full size to be ave- 
rage ; centre well up, petals rather coarse, 
and inclined to reflex as they open. 
*Leander (Bevan). — Large, bold, bright 
crimson rose ; rather open, but fine outline ; 
full size, eye rather flat, but a fine flower alto- 
gether ; the only large flower of its colour. 
Queen of Hoses (Widnall). —Beautifully 
compact well-formed flower, rather below the 
average ; delicate pinky-rose colour ; fine 
