234 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
r March 21, 1889. 
poor a record. The distinction between a Fancy and a Show 
Dahlia has always appeared vague to me, as the title given to the 
former might be taken as implying extremely fanciful, and one which 
must sooner or later disappear unless specially fostered by separate 
classes being devoted to these so-called Fancy varieties. This is, 
however, only a matter of individual opinion, and somewhat outside 
the scope of this analysis, which professes to deal with sober facts 
rather than showy fancies, and yet at the same time to treat both 
Shows and Fancies, as long as they remain separated, with the 
strictest impartiality. The total number of flowers shown in each 
section at the last six National Exhibitions has been as follows :— 
1883 ... 
. 692 
Shows, 269 
Fancies. 
1884 ... 
. 754 
„ 425 
1885 ... 
. 837 
„ 355 
1886 ... 
. 840 
„ 387 
1887 ... 
. 1106 
„ 350 
1888 ... 
. 1158 
„ 315 
5387 
2101 
Notwithstanding the untoward and backward character of the 
season, to say nothing of the plague of earwigs which prevailed 
last year in many localities, a further advance in the extent of the 
Exhibition was again made ; in fact, ever since this National Dahlia 
Show at the Crystal Palace was first started, it has year by year 
been getting larger and larger. Less than a thousand Shows and 
Fancies were staged in competition in 1883, whereas last year there 
were altogether very nearly fifteen hundred blooms exhibited. 
The extent as well as the interest attaching to these annual levies, 
held in her palace of crystal by the Queen of Early Autumn, have 
moreover, in the last few seasons considerably increased, owing to 
the great attention that is now being given to the Cactus, Pompon, 
and Single varieties. As it is the intention of the Committee of 
the newly constituted Nation il Dahlia Society to celebrate at their 
Exhibition this year the centenary of the first introduction of the 
Dahlia into this country, a still further development in all the 
sections may next autumn be reasonably anticipated. 
The averages which govern the positions of the different varie¬ 
ties in the tables are estimated as follows :—For Dahlias sent out 
before 1883 the means given in the second column are for the full 
six years, for the 1883 sorts the average is for five years, for those 
of 1884 four years, for those sent out in 1885 three years, for the 
1886 flowers two years, while for those distributed in 1887 and 
1888 the number of times they were staged at the last Show is 
alone taken into consideration. 
Mrs. Gladstone still stands at the head of the Show Dahlias 
altogether unrivalled, having at the last three Exhibitions been 
staged nearly twice as frequently as any other variety. William 
Rawlings was in magnificent form ; indeed, if last year’s Exhibition 
were taken by itself it would stand only second to the leading 
flower. Mrs. Harris, Ethel Britton, Prince Bismarck, Burgundy, 
Mrs. Dodds, Clara, Mi’. Harris, Mrs. Shirley Hibberd, Joseph 
Green, and Walter H. Williams were all unusually well shown. 
On the other hand Goldfinder, Prince of Denmark, Harrison Weir, 
Imperial, George Rawlings, James Stephen, and several other well- 
known sorts were but indifferently represented. 
Many of the newer Dahlias are again taking up prominent 
positions. Of the four 1885 Show Dahlias, T. J. Saltmarsh 
(No. 11) has risen one place, while Mrs. Kendal, not before tabulated, 
now comes in at No. 43. On the other hand, Mrs. Langtry (No. 14), 
although last year shown in about average form, has fallen four 
places, and that refined scarlet, Mrs. Douglas (No. 37) no fewer 
than eighteen places. There are also four 1886 flowers on the^list, 
conspicuous among which near the top of it stands Harry Keith 
(No. 4), between those two tried veterans, James Cocker and Henry 
Walton. In fact this variety has since last year climbed up no fewer 
than twelve very difficult steps. R. T. Rawlings (No. 21) has also 
done well, gaining thirteen places. Mrs. W. Slack, although as well 
shown as in 1887, nevertheless loses several places ; while Mr. Glass¬ 
cock (No. 46) just manages to obtain a footing. No less than seven 
Dahlias sent out in 1887 already take up positions in the present 
analysis. J. T. West on its first appearance springs at once into the 
eighth place. Next, at No. 16, comes Colonist, valuable on account 
of its pleasing and novel colour, which has gained three places, then 
Willie Garrett (No. 21), Queen of the Belgians (No. 24), and 
Bendigo (No. 31). The three last named are now inserted in the 
list for the first time. On the other hand Crimson King (No. 37) 
and Mrs. G. Rawlings (No. 42) have both lost places. Of Royalty 
(No. 46) we shall doubtless hear more another season, as it only 
came out last year and yet manages to creep in at the end of the 
analysis. 
Turning now to the Fancy Dahlias, we find that Gaiety and 
Mrs. Saunders, both of which were last year staged less frequently 
than usual, tie for first place, while the Rev. J. B. M. Camm, 
as was the case in 1887, appeared in more stands than at any 
of the previous exhibitions. Hugh Austin and Mrs. N. Halls 
were also in good form. Professor Fawcett, John Forbes, Henry 
FANCY DAHLIAS. 
Position in Present 
Analysis. 
Average Number of 
Times Shown in the 
Six Years. 
Number of Times 
Shown in 1888. 
Name. 
Date of Introduction. 
Raiser’s 
or 
Introducer’s 
Name. 
Colour. 
1 
17 3 
17 
Gaiety. 
1879 
Keynes . 
Yellow, red, and white. 
1 
17-3 
14 
Mrs. Saunders . 
1872 
Turner . 
Yellow and white. 
2 
15*5 
20 
Rev. J. B. M. Camm . 
1873 
Keynes . 
Yel ow and red. 
3 
130 
11 
Chorister . 
1881 
Keynes & Co. 
Fawn and crimson. 
4 
10 3 
7 
Fanny Sturt. 
1868 
Pope . 
Red and white. 
4 
10 3 
8 
Flora Wyatt . 
1871 
Keynes . 
Orange and red. 
6 
100 
14 
Henry Eekford. 
1886 
Rawlings . 
Yellow and red. 
6 
9-8 
12 
Mrs. N. Halls . 
1881 
Rawlings . 
Scarlet and white. 
7 
9 7 
9 
Peacock . 
1877 
Turner . 
Maroon and white. 
7 
97 
4 
Professor Fawcett . 
1881 
Keynes & Co. 
Lilac and brown. 
8 
9 5 
8 
George Barnes . 
1878 
Keynes ... 
Lilac and crimson. 
9 
93 
13 
Iluchess of Albany . 
1884 
Turner . 
Orange and crimson. 
9 
9 3 
6 
General Gordon . 
1885 
Keynes & Co. 
Yellow and scarlet. 
9 
93 
7 
John Forbes . 
1882 
Keynes &. Co. 
Maroon. 
10 
9 2 
13 
Hugh Austin. 
1881 
Keynes & Co. 
Orange and red. 
11 
8-3 
5 
Henry Glasscock . 
1875 
Keynes . 
Buff and crimson. 
12 
8’1 
11 
Rebecca. 
1883 
Keynes & Co. 
Lilac and crimson. 
13 
7-5 
6 
Miss Browning. 
1880 
Keynes . 
Yellow and white. 
14 
73 
7 
Egyptian Prince . 
1873 
Keynes . 
Orange and red. 
14 
7-3 
7 
James O’Brien . 
1881 
Keynes & Co. 
Yellow and crimson. 
14 
73 
4 
Miss Lily Large . 
1876 
Keynes . 
Yellow and crimson. 
15 
C’8 
2 
Hercules. 
1877 
Keynes . 
Yellow and crimson. 
16 
6 7 
8 
I.otty Eekford . 
1884 
Eekford. 
White and purple. 
17 
60 
4 
Eric Fisher . 
1886 
Keynes & Co. 
Buff and scarlet. 
17 
60 
6 
Oracle. 
1877 
Fellowcs. 
Yellow and crimson. 
17 
60 
5 
Pelican . 
1886 
Keynes & Co. 
White and purple. 
18 
58 
0 
John Lamont . 
1375 
Keynes . 
Maroon and black. 
