March 28,1895. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
267 
In the table of Fancy varieties it will be noticed that Mrs. 
Saunders and Rev. J. B. M. Camm, both more than twenty years 
old, continue to run each other very close, the former, however, 
still retaining a slight lead. Mrs. John Downie follows imme¬ 
diately on their heels, and threatens at any time to spring into the 
first position. There are few changes in this list since the last 
analysis was issued as regards the older Fancies. 
Of the sorts sent out in 1890, T. W. Girdlestone has risen from 
No. 13 to No. 7, whereas Buffalo Bill (No. 17) has fallen two 
places. Comedian, an 1892 variety, has made capital progress, 
rising from No. 24 to No. 12, or twelve places. 
Treating the Fancies in the same way as I have done the Shows, 
three varieties are found to be twenty or more years old, four 
between fifteen and twenty, five between ten and fifteen, and eight 
less than ten years old. The average position which those sent 
out in the first twelve years would occupy in the analysis would be 
at No. 12, while those introduced since then would stand at No. 8. 
The advance made in the Cactus, as distinguished from the 
Decorative section, is truly surprising, when we consider the 
character of the flowers staged a few years ago as Cactus Dahlias 
compared with those now set up at the early autumn shows 
throughout the country. At the 1890 exhibition of the National 
Dahlia Society the leading sorts Were Mrs. Hawkins, Empress of 
India, Panthea, Amphion, Juarezii, William Darvill, William 
Pearce, and Cochineal; whereas on the list of Cactus Dahlias 
recently revised by that Society, and now numbering thirty-four 
varieties, only one of the above finds a place—viz., our old friend 
Juarezii. Regarded simply as exhibition flowers, some of the new 
Cactuses are as nearly perfect as they possibly could be. Several 
of the most beautiful of these have, however, one very serious 
defect, their stalks are so short that the blooms become hidden 
in the foliage. Varieties which require considerable thinning 
out, which are not free - flowering, and which do not hold 
their flowers well above the foliage, are never likely to become 
generally popular or suitable for garden decoration. As examples 
of two choice varieties possessing in a marked degree the habit of 
growth to be aimed at in the raising of new varieties I may 
instance Matchless and Bertha Mawley. 
In the following select lists the Pompons have been treated 
in a similar way to the Shows and Fancies in the tables. In the 
case of the Cactus, Decorative, and Single varieties, however, the 
average number of times they were staged at the last two shows 
alone governs their relative positions in the lists. Those marked 
with an asterisk are new sorts, and the places they take dependent 
upon the number of times they were shown at the last exhibition only 
Pompons. —Darkness, E* F. Junker, Phoebe, Tommy Keith,* 
Isabel, White Aster (Guiding Star), Whisper, Favourite, Grace* 
Admiration, Arthur West,* G. Brinckman, Lilian,* Red Indian, 
Lady Blanche, Eurjdice, Bacchus,* Captain Boyton,* Eva,* Mars,* 
and Sunshine.* 
Cactus. —Delicata, Kynerith, Juarezii, Bertha Mawley, Countess 
of Radnor, Lady Penzance,* Apollo,* Matchless,* Robert Cannell, 
Professor Baldwin, Countess of Gosford, Miss Violet Morgan,* 
and Kaiserin. 
Decorative. —St. Catherine, Duke of Clarence, Marchioness of 
Bute, Baron Schroder, Cannell’s Favourite, Black Prince, Countess of 
Pembroke, Amphion, Beauty of Arundel, Harry Freeman, Josephine, 
Lancelot, Millie Scupham, Mrs. Hawkins, and Robert Mayher. 
Singles. —Phyllis,* Victoria, Amos Perry, James Scobie* 
M.C.C.,* Gulielma, Miss Roberts, Miss Henshaw, Northern Star,^. 
Demon,* Duchess of Albany, W. C. Harvey, Cleopatra, Mias- 
Glasscock, and Yellow Satin. 
My Dahlias were not entirely killed by frost last year until- 
the lit of December, which is the latest date for their destruction 
that I have yet recorded during the eighteen years over which my 
observations extend. Daring that period the average date for 
their being destroyed comes out as November 3rd. In 1888 they 
were killed as early as the 3rd of October. Laat year, owing to 
the cold summer, many Dahlias were not at their best during 
the exhibition season, but in the latter half of September and 
throughout October they flowered magnificently, the Single Dahlias 
especially. How seldom are these Singles seen in perfection, and 
yet, after all, they are by far the easiest to grow. Their require¬ 
ments are very simple, for they will thrive in almost any soil, and 
need little or no manure. It is no doubt because they require so 
little attention, that none at all is given them. To be successful 
with Single Dahlias three things are necessary. 1, Only named 
varieties should be grown. 2, They should be firmly staked. 3,. 
Once a week all the seed pods should be removed from the plants, 
for nothing checks the flowering of Single Dahlias so much as the 
formation of these seed pods. Thus treated they will yield such 
a wealth of blossom as few other plants can compete with, 
and at a time of year when free-flowering showy plants are much 
wanted.—E. M., Berlchamsted. 
FANCY DAHLIAS. 
Position in Present 
Analysis. 
Average Number of 
Times Shown. 
No. of Times Shown 
in 1894 in True 
Relative Proportion 
to the Average. 
Name. 
Date of 
Introduction. 
Raiser’s 
or 
Introducer’s 
Name. 
Colour. 
1 
21-1 
18 
Mrs. Saunders . 
1872 
Turner. 
Yellow and white 
2 
20 6 
17 
Rev. J. B. M. Camm . 
1873 
Keynes . 
Yellow and red 
3 
19 7 
18 
Mrs. John Downie . 
1889 
Turner. 
Orange and scarlet 
4 
176 
14 
Duchess of Albany . 
1884 
Turner. 
Orange and crimson 
r> 
16'7 
14 
Matthew Campbell. 
1889 
Keynes . 
Buff and crimson 
6 
16 5 
12 
Frank Pearce . 
1886 
Rawlings . 
Rose, striped crimson 
7 
11-3 
12 
Peacock . 
1877 
Turner. 
Maroon and white 
7 
11-3 
17 
T. W. Girdlestone. 
1890 
Keynes . 
Lilac and maroon 
9 
9-8 
10 
Dorothy. 
1888 
Keynes . 
Fawn and maroon 
10 
8-8 
7 
Henry Eckford. 
1886 
Rawlings . 
Yellow and red 
11 
84 
11 
Rebecca . 
1883 
Keynes . 
Lilac and crimson 
12 
8-0* 
8 
Ciimpdi'an . 
1892 
Keynes . 
Orange and crimson 
7 6 
6 
Chorister . 
1881 
Keynes . 
Fawn and crimson 
14 
7.4 
4 
Mrs. N, Halls . 
1881 
Rawlings . 
Scarlet and white 
14 
7 4 
6 
Professor Fawcett . 
1881 
Keynes . 
Lilac and brown 
7 3 
4 
Gaiety . 
1879 
Keynes . 
Yellow, red, and white 
17 
70 
6 
Buffalo Bill . 
1890 
Keynes . 
Buff, striped vermilion 
6 6 
2 
George Barnes . 
1878 
Keynes ... 
Lilac and crimson 
19 
6 5 
3 
Flora Wyatt. 
1871 
Keynes . 
Orange and red 
19 
6'5 
5 
Henry Glasscock . 
1875 
Keynes . 
Buff and crimson 
* A new variety, the position of which is dependent on its record for the 1894 show only. 
