Short Hills. 
The fourteenth annual Dahlia Show of The Short Hills Garden Club 
has passed into a memory. 
The marvelous weather afforded us the opportunity of welcoming an 
unusually large number of the members of the Garden Clxjb op America. 
It was a thrilling experience to be able to greet friends from many states, 
actually from Wisconsin to Maryland. 
The number of exhibits had grown to such proportions that the Artistic 
Arrangements were literally pushed from the auditorium to find a, new 
stage for exhibition in the small Tea Garden of the Club, where the soft 
light falling through its shaded glass roof greatly enhanced their effect. 
As this class was quickly judged, our guests were enabled to employ the 
time before luncheon in its examination. 
We were so fortunate as to be able to secure the cooperation of a 
wonderful corps of judges, nine in all. This expedited the judging so that 
the delay in opening the Show, which we have always endured in the past, 
was avoided. 
Owing to the greatly increased number of exhibits, it was necessary 
to curtail the space formerly given to decoration, and to simplify its 
character. However, the effect was pronounced never to have been more 
beautiful. Somber Cedars effectively placed intensified the brilliancy of the 
flowers. As a contrast the eye found relief in the central open space where 
a bronze centerpiece and two bending cranes stood on a carpet of autumn 
leaves surrounded by a low green hedge. 
The Flower Show Equipment provided by the Garden Club of 
America was used and found to be of inestimable value, where confuaion 
had threatened in the past in staging and classification, the way was greatly 
simplified and we had the gratification of being told that there were no 
misplaced flowers. 
Three new sections were added: one of these was for a collection of 
five Dahlias, one each, of the five principal types into which Dahliai are 
divided. This class, in the opinion of the judges, marks a most construc- 
tive and educational step. 
Among the novelties were Prometheus, one of the hits of the season, a 
hybrid cactus, bronze overlaid with rose, much resembling the famous 
Insulinde in color. 
From California, Ambassador, an immense cactus of a light cream- 
yellow, the rear petals tinged pink, and Amun-Ea, a deep copper-red 
decorative. 
Jost was represented by Hasel Welton, a Show Dahlia of a livid orange. 
From England (Stredwick) Pennant, a superb cactus, coral in color; and 
Phoenix, a larger pink cactus, from Burrell (also English) ; three great 
decoratives, Cambria pink, Defiance pink and white, and Medusa, cream 
edged With bright pink, very distinct. 
The seedling classes gave promise of honors to come. White Sister, a 
hybrid cactus of the class of 1921, may be said to have arrived. 
We marveled at the increased interest in our little Show for from the 
moment the doors were opened on Friday afternoon until they were closed 
at six o'clock the next evening, the room was packed. Many people 
expressed gratification at being able to identify the flowers by the name 
and variety attached to each. We felt that new interest had been awakened 
in our Club and that the quality of our flowers had been improved. 
S. H. G. C. 
