PERSONAL PREJUDICES OF A DAHLIA HOBBYIST 
D. W. 
lfer^VERY father has his favorite child — though he may not 
confess it; just so every flower lover has his favorite 
flower. The Dahlia is mine. Of course the Rose and 
Peony and Gladiolus people delight to tell me that the 
1 )ahlia is stiff, and won’t keep as a cut flower, and a lot of other 
unfair things. But somehow I’ve come to love it above all 
other flowers — so there! One of these same critics has had the 
nerve to tell me that the Dahlia is a vulgar, new-rich sort of 
flower, that it has no tradition back of it, and that it has been 
almost ignored by the great poets. Well, I should really like to 
bring to life such an epigrammist as Shakespeare and have him 
meet any one of our modern Dahlia creations face to face! 1 
am sure a classic would be the result. 
Selecting favorites is like picking “an All-American Foot- 
ball Team.” No one will agree with me; but for the sake 
of those who are just getting the Dahlia fever, I register my 
choice. After growing a large number of varieties in Kentucky, 
attending several Dahlia shows in various cities, and after 
making visits to many of the Eastern Dahlia gardens, the follow- 
ing are deliberately selected. None of them are untried novel- 
ties but all are varieties of proven merit, although some may not 
as yet be very widely distributed. 
George Walters. Hybrid Cactus. A great, salmon and 
red fellow, with lots of pure gold for good measure. George 
behaves well wherever he is grown, and has a lot of prizes to his 
credit. He is perfect in form, and will be afforded a royal 
welcome by those who are trying to grow something larger than 
their neighbor’s best. 
Attraction. Hybrid Cactus. I could write a full page on 
this wonderful lady. She is so dainty, and such a favorite as a 
cut flower, that 1 can’t see why all Dahlia enthusiasts are not in 
love with her. A soft lavender in color, with long, stiff stems 
and a very pleasing face. She is as reliable as she is beautiful — 
a rare feminine combination. 
Judge Marean. Decorative. A Dahlia that the originator 
must pridefully treasure. The Judge defies description. He is 
red, he is yellow, he is salmon, and he is all of them put to- 
gether. He is a perfect Decorative in form, and under arti- 
ficial light, simply dazzles your eye. He must be seen to be 
appreciated. Here’s a prize winner. The Judge has in fact a 
gold medal or two to his credit. 
F. W. Fellows. Cactus. “F. W.” is a glowing orange-red 
and has quite a wide acquaintance among Dahlia gardeners 
throughout the country. He is a free bloomer, and captured me 
as a life-time friend the first time I saw him. Very unusual in 
color. 
Pierrot. Another Cactus of superior merit. When 1 tell 
you that Pierrot is a brown with yellow, white, and red mixed in, 
you will say “Goodness — what a combination!” But nature 
sometimes defies description, and in this case it would be fairer 
to call Pierrot a rich amber, tipped white. He is a free bloomer 
— and very fine. 
Contrast. Decorative. Did you ever see a toddling boy 
dressed in white knickers with a flaming red sweater? Well 
that is Contrast’s color combination. He is red and white, 
and his red is red, and his white is white. He is not well known. 
An American production that should become very popular. 
Not a large flower, but very unique and striking. 
Frans Ludwig. A Holland creation that is unusual in many 
ways. Frans is a pure lavender without any perceptible trace 
of pink. Lie is so daintily beautiful that he should have been a 
girl. He is the best cut flower I know, and as such has actually 
kept for me longer than any other Dahlia in this collection. 
Frans has proven a great seller on the New York cut flower 
market. lie is not a large Dahlia; neither was St. Paul a large 
man. 
HART 
Yellow King. Hybrid Cactus. My favorite yellow Dahlia. 
A clear, soft yellow. Very graceful in form. He also displays 
great endurance as a cut flower and is well worthy of a place in 
the connoisseur’s garden. Looks like a yellow "’Mum.” 
Jonkheer Boreel. Hybrid Cactus. Another Holland fel- 
low that has proven of superior merit. The first time I saw 
Jonkheer, 1 was quite smitten, and the second time (under 
artificial light) 1 lost my heart, and several dollars too, for 1 had 
to have Jonkheer in my collection. Jonkheer is a Dahlia with a 
dual personality. He is a rich orange with lots of golden sheen, 
and under artificial light turns himself into a velvety salmon 
of indescribable beauty. I know of one Dahlia hater who com- 
pletely gave in when she met Jonkheer. 
Red Cross. A new hybrid cactus of perfect form and re- 
markable quality. 1 am sure Red Cross will surpass Geisha in 
popularity, for he has Geisha’s beautiful color combination and 
none of her bad habits. 1 don’t know whether Red Cross is one 
of Geisha’s children or not; but he is a ducal sort of Dahlia and 
very easy to grow. 
Tom Lundy. Hybrid Cactus. Tom got on to my honor roll 
chiefly because he is a red, and the best red I know. He is 
wilful at times, but then by a swift assumption of beauty wins 
easy forgiveness. Tom is in most ways superior to Minna 
Burgle, though less reliable. He makes a much better showing 
in the garden and sometimes comes astonishingly large. Tom 
is a free bloomer, and altogether a worth-while fellow. 
Other favorites of mine are Mephistopheles, Insulinde, Mrs. 
Warnaar, Bianca, Hortulanus Fiet, General Joffre, Princess 
Pat, Avalanche, Lorna Slocombe and Edith Slocombe (a very 
attractive pair of sisters), The Millionaire, Mrs. 1. de Ver 
Warner, Dr. Tevis, Melody, Dream, Glory of Nijkerk. I could 
keep right on — but I’ve already named my Dahlia team — and 
then some! 
SOME DAHLIA DONT’s 
D ON’T plant too early, unless you want to throw away your 
chances of good fall bloom. 
Don’t plant any bulb with more than two eyes or sprouts; 
one is better still. Wait until the tubers begin to sprout, and 
then you can tell just where to divide the clump, so as to get a 
single stalk plant. 
Don’t divide the clumps until you are ready to plant. 
Don’t let the zero weather clean you out. Protect vour 
bulbs by wrapping them in heavy paper. Put in a box in a cool 
place in the cellar. Don’t have them near the furnace. 
Don’t forget that a hungry rat or mouse will find your best 
variety much to his liking. 
Don’t feed the plants heavily while growing. Wait until you 
want heavy bloom. A good liquid fertilizer is the best for pro- 
fuse bloom. 
Don’t let all the buds bloom. Leave only the first bud on 
each- stalk. Cut out the small bud stalks with a sharp knife. 
Big bloom will result. 
Don’t fail to provide stakes if you wish to get the finest bloom. 
Set the stake when you set the tuber. A stake of four to six 
feet is usually necessary. 
Don't allow the soil around the stalk to become caked. The 
question of moisture is largely a question of keeping the top soil 
loose. 
Don’t start watering unless you can supply your plants 
regularly. They soon become “spoiled” in this respect. 
Don’t let lack of size of bulbs worry you. All you really need 
is an eye or a sprout. 
Don’t fail to have a Dahlia Show in your club. You will have 
a lot of fun, and besides it’s an excellent way to increase your 
club reserve fund. 
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