FEBRUARY. 
37 
The subject may and perhaps should have been more elaborately 
worked out, and there would have been no difficulty in filling the 
number on this subject alone, so great is its importance; but we again 
beg most distinctly to state that we had no intention of disparaging the 
productions of Mr. Thomson’s culture, beyond alluding to the plants as 
being in larger pots than was necessary. We hold it to be a step in 
the right direction when plants as large can be produced in smaller 
pots with the same results, and we have yet to be convinced that it is 
not to be done.— Ed.] 
NEW DAHLIAS OF 1857. 
My estimate of the new Dahlias offered for sale during the past year 
having been published in your pages twelve months ago, and as I see 
no reason to make any material alteration in their position as then 
given, I will content myself with giving your readers the’ benefit of my 
opinions respecting the varieties that have come under my observation— 
such as are offered for sale in May next. Perhaps it may be 
as well for me to state that the ideas now expressed are derived 
more from an inspection of most of the seedlings while growing in the 
grounds of the raisers than from cut specimens exhibited. My 
attendance, however, either in the capacity of judge or exhibitor at 
nearly all the principal exhibitions during the past season has, of course, 
materially assisted me in preparing the following list. I have selected 
to the best of my ability the best twelve show varieties, and placed them 
in rotation, according to their merit; and, as the fancy class has been 
more enriched by the introduction of new varieties this year than is 
usually the case, I have chosen the best eighty the whole of which are 
important additions. 
Charles James Perry. 
The Cedars, Castle Bromwich, near Birmingham. 
1. Marion. —A beautiful flower, clear white ground, with distinct tip 
of purple on every petal. A great advance over all in its class, and very 
constant; quite a gem. 
2. Lady Popham. —A singularly handsome and delicate flower when 
nicely coloured ; ground colour pure white, with beautifully arranged 
small petals, slightly tinted with deep rose, outline exquisite, but as the 
flower does not perfect its centre so early as Marion, I must give the 
palm to that variety. 
3. Royal Scarlet. —A bold and constant variety; colour more crimson 
than scarlet, the flowers of great depth, and always with a good centre; 
will be a good companion to Lord Palmerston. 
4. Cherub. —A medium-sized pleasing looking flower; colour nankeen, 
with open petals of excellent form ; a constant variety. 
5. Lord Cardigan. —A good and useful variety, although by no 
