2 
LEIFER’S 1934 PRICE LIST 
DEBUNKING DAHLIAS 
We can grow as good Dahlias as can be grown in 
the North, and some varieties better, but we cannot 
grow all varieties here that are popular in the North, 
and sections near the sea coast, as many of the late 
introductions were originated along the eastern or 
western sea coast where the air is always moist, and 
weather conditions favorable to such fragile textured 
varieties that will not hold up in our 57 varieties of 
weather that we have to contend with in the middle 
South. Fortunately, there are hundreds of Dahlia 
varieties, whose texture is strong enough, and colors, 
unsurpassed by any, that will give splendid results 
here in the South. 
Much of my spare change has gone into these 
highly ballyhued Dahlias that were recommended to 
do well all over the country, and I have not quite 
abandoned the habit yet, hard to overcome a habit 
of long standing, a habit started in 1896. 
The fact that a Dahlia has created a sensation 
and won a prize, and has been placed on Hart’s roll 
of honor at the A. D. S. Dahlia Show in New York, 
don’t mean a thing to a real Dahlia fancier, as flow¬ 
ers grown and exhibited at such shows are expressly 
grown for that purpose only, by past masters in the 
art of artificially boosting their plants, allowing only 
one flower to mature on a plant, which is protected 
both from winds and sun. What the real fancier 
and amateur wants, is a Dahlia for its lasting beauty 
and charm, plus enough vigor in the plant to elimi¬ 
nate everlasting coddling and close attention. Some 
catalogues stress the large number of honor roll 
Dahlias which they list; I believe my price-list in¬ 
cludes about as many as others do, but never con¬ 
sidered it worth mentioning. 
How a Dahlia behaves in the North, East, or West 
is of no interest to us here, but what we can expect 
of any variety here, is what we are interested in. 
I attended the Mid-West, or so-called International 
Dahlia Show at The Century of Progress last year 
and spent about all my time during the show with 
the Dahlia and Gladiolus exhibits. What I saw there 
only confirmed what I have always contended, that 
for keeping qualities, and retaining their color val¬ 
ues, the popular varieties of moderate price, are far 
ahead of any of the late and high-priced novelties. 
Such varieties as Jerseys Beauty, Jane Cowl, Ken¬ 
tucky, and many other well known sorts were hold¬ 
ing up fine, while many of the over fed varieties were 
hanging their heads on the second day of show as 
if afflicted with sick headache. 
