April 14, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
271 
T here were fewer Show Dahlias staged in competition at the 
last annual Exhibition of the National Dahlia Society than at 
any of the four previous exhibitions. More Fancy Dahlias were, 
however, shown than in either 1889 or 1890, while the number of 
Pompons was above the average. The display of both Cactus and 
Single Dahlias exceeded that at any of the preceding shows. 
The following short statement gives the total number of 
Show and Fancy Dahlia blooms set up at the last nine exhibitions 
which have been held at the Crystal Palace. 
1883 
1884 
1885 
1886 
1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
Shows . •.. 692 
754 
837 
840 
1106 
1158 
922 
934 
854 
Fancies.... 269 
425 
355 
387 
350 
315 
274 
283 
286 
961 
1179 
1192 
1227 
1456 
1473 
1196 
1217 
1140 
In the first column of each of the accompanying tables will 
be found the positions occupied in the analysis by the different 
varieties which find places in them. These relative positions are 
derived from the averages given in the second column. Some¬ 
times a new Dahlia is shown sufficiently well the first year after 
its introduction to allow of the number of times it was staged 
in that year to be taken into consideration when computing its 
average for this second column. As a rule, however, it is only 
in the second year that the record is good enough to allow of 
this being done. In the present analysis a further improvement 
has been introduced. In the previous analyses no allowance has 
been made for the varying extent of the exhibitions. The 
necessity for some correction on this account will at once be 
seen when it is explained that at two consecutive exhibitions 
the number of Show Dahlias was only about 700 at each 
exhibition, whereas at two other consecutive shows there were 
no fewer than 1100, or more than half as many again. 
Consequently, any new Dahlia whose position was made dependent 
upon its form at the first two shows would, as compared with 
an older variety, be placed much lower on the list than it ought 
to be. On the other hand, if dependent on the number of 
times it was staged at the last two shows referred to, it would be 
accorded a higher place than it was entitled to. In the present 
tables all the varieties are arranged on an equal footing in this 
respect, by their averages being computed as for an exhibition con¬ 
taining an average number of Show or Fancy Dahlias as the case 
may be, taking into consideration all the past nine exhibitions. 
Mrs. Gladstone, which heads the Show Dahlia section, still 
remains as great a marvel as ever. Although by no means as well 
represented as usual last year, it nevertheless comes out with an 
average exactly twice as largo as that for any other variety on the 
list. Harry Keith was so poorly shown at the same exhibition 
that William Rawlings now passes it into the second place. James 
Cocker, Hon. Mrs. P. Wyndham, Mrs. W. Slack, Goldfinder, Mrs. 
Harris, and Prince Bismarck were also indifferently represented. 
On the contrary. Colonist, Willie Garratt, and Earl of Ravens- 
worth were staged much more frequently than usual. 
None of the more recent introductions except Maud Fellowes 
occupies a prominent position. This variety, which was first sent 
out in 1889, will be found at No. 9, and thus maintains the good 
position accorded to it in the previous analysis. Two other Show 
Dahlias of the same year also find places—W. Jackson at No. 33 
No. 616.—VoL. XXIV.. Tried Seeie.s, 
and Agnes at No. 50. The only 1890 sort is Alice Emily, which 
on its first appearance rises to No. 40. 
The two leading flowers on the list of Fancy Dahlias, Mrs. 
Saunders and Rev. J. B. M. Camm, remain as in the previous 
analysis. Their positions seem, however, to be threatened by a 
new rival, which on its first appearance occupies at once the 
third place on the table, I refer, of course, to Mrs. J. Downie. 
Of established sorts. Rev. J. B. M. Camm, Duchess of Albany, 
and Frank Pearce were unusually well shown last year, whereas 
Gaiety, Chorister, and Flora Wyatt were to be seen less 
frequently than at any of the preceding exhibitions. 
As regards the new kinds. Mo. J. Downie and Matthew 
Campbell, both of which were sent out in 1889, stand well on 
the list, the former, as before pointed out, following close on the 
two leading varieties, while Matthew Campbell has risen from 
No. 11 to No. 7. T. W. Girdlestone (No. 19), the only 1890 
Fancy, also takes a good position considering how short a 
time it has been in cultivation. 
As there are very nearly seventy different varieties on the 
list of Show Dahlias, it may be of some interest if we consider 
for a moment what are their respective ages. The two oldest 
are Flag of Truce (No. 22) and Vice-President (No. 23), which 
were both distributed twenty-four years ago. But the most 
prominent and noteworthy of all these veterans is James Cocker. 
This variety, although this year attaining its majority, neverthelesa 
occupies the fifth place on the analysis. Henry Walton (No. 6),. 
although nearly twenty years old, also still continues to maintaiu 
a first-rate position. Taking the whole period of twenty-three 
years, there have been only two which are not answerable for 
one or more Dahlias which find places in the table. Two-thirds 
of them have been, however, introduced during the last eleven 
years. The record for 1881 is a truly remarkable one for a single 
year, including as it does no fewer than thirteen sorts :—William 
Rawlings (No. 2), Hon. Mrs. P. Wyndham (No. 7), Goldfinder 
(No. 11), Prince of Denmark (No. 12), Shirley Hibberd (No. 17) 
James Vick (No. 19), Miss Cannell (No. 24), Mrs. Dodds (No. 26), 
Mr. Harris (No. 27), Sunbeam (No. 40), Joseph Green (No. 41), 
Champion Rollo (No. 44), and Walter H. Williams (No. 46). 
Since 1881 good new sorts have appeared at the rate of from two 
to seven a year. 
Although there are less than thirty Fancies tabulated, and the 
oldest of these (Fanny Sturt) is twenty-four years old, yet there 
are only three years since then (1869, 1870, and 1874) which are 
not mentioned in the column containing the dates of introduction. 
As was found to be the case with the Shows, 1881 was the most 
prolific year of al’, as many as five new Fancy Dahlias having been 
sent out in that one year. Since then from one to two new good 
kinds have made their appearance every year. It is the steady 
advance, both in the Show and Fancy sections, which renders this 
Dahlia analysis so very satisfactory. It is when flowers like the 
Japanese Chrysanthemum and Cactus Dahlia are comparatively 
in their infancy that it becomes so difficult to place all the varieties 
exactly as they should be ; for then new varieties often rush 
suddenly into favour with exhibitors and as rapidly rush out again, 
whereas with these Show and Fancy Dahlias the rate of progress 
appears to be singularly steady and consistent. 
In the following selections the varieties are placed according to 
the total number of times they were staged at the last three 
exhibitions of the Society. 
Pompon.—E. F. Junker, White Aster (Guiding Star), Dark¬ 
ness, Isabel, Favourite, Grace, Lady Blanche, Rosalie, Gem, 
Whisper, Dora, Cupid, Golden Gem, Admiration, Fairy Tales, 
and Little Duchess. Phoebe, a new variety, was a'so well repre¬ 
sented last year. 
Cactus and Decorative. —Mrs. Hawkins, Empress of India, 
Juarezii, Amphion, Panthea, Honoria, Constance, Henry Patrick, 
Charming Bride, William Darvil, Cochineal, Marchioness of Bute, 
No. 2272.— VoL. LXXXVL, Old Serie.s. 
