/. K. Alexander, East Bridgewater, Massachusetts East Bridgewater Dahlia Gardens 
The Peony-Flowered Dahlias 
In presenting my list of new and selected varieties of Peony-flowered Dahlias, I wish ot devote a few 
lines to the history of this comparatively new type of Dahlia ; a section which I think will interest all 
flower lovers. 
Prompted by the great popularity of the Cactus Dahlia, then sc different from the stiff, ball-shaped 
Dahlias but only beautiful for exhibition, lacking the grace and freedom to flower of the Single Dahlia, 
European hybridizers saw the possibility of making a type suitable for garden and cut-flower purposes. 
By crossing the Cactus and other Hybrid Dahlias with the Single, and vice versa, they developed 
quite a new type—the Peony-flowered Dahlia—now popular all over the world. These long stemmed, 
semi-double Dahlias were grown in Holland, and sold as Half-double Giant Dahlias. Mr. H. Horns- 
veld, an Orchid specialist of Baarn, Holland, immediately saw their possibilities and collected the 
largest and most promising specimens. The great development and present value of the Peony-flow¬ 
ered type is due to him. After seven years of cross-hybridizing and developing (July, 1904), he was able to 
show the results at the meeting of the Dutch Horticultural Society at Rosendaal, where he exhibited 
four varieties, Queen Wilhelmina, Duke Henry, Baron G. de Grancy, and Glory of Baarn. Here he 
received a first-class Certificate of Merit, and the admiration and encouragement of growers and Dahlia 
lovers. A still greater success was accorded him that same season at the International Exhibition at 
Dusseldorf, Germany, where he gained the highest awards. The horticultural world gathered at the Show 
was charmed by the elegant and artistic form, the strong stems, and the delicate colors of the flowers. 
Mr. Kerr of Liverpool exclaimed, “Hornsveld’s Dahlias are the pride of the Show.” After Dusseldorf 
came Paris. A gold medal and special compliments of the jury were the laurels Mr. Hornsveld gathered 
there.. Amsterdam, London, Brussels, and other places followed, where he had the same good fortune. 
With this encouragement he continued experimenting and introducing new things, and as his stock 
increased sufficiently, he distributed them throughout Holland. Because of their great value for cut 
flower purposes and garden decoration, their popularity increased rapidly, and they were exported to 
other countries. 
English and American Dahlia Specialists, seeing their value, immediately commenced experimenting, 
and today every up-to-date Dahlia specialist offers a collection, not only containing the best and latest 
Holland productions, but also English and American creations. 
New Peony-Flowered Dahlias for 1919 
I will ship this collection of 8 New Peony-flowered Dahlias for $15.00, prepaid. 
ANNY DOPPENBERG. A new Holland intro¬ 
duction wilh an Award of Merit to its credit. 
The color is sulphur-yellow, and the habit of 
the plant is all that could be desired. $1.00 each. 
ATTRACTION. Large, elegant, full flower, of a 
clear, lilac-rose. The habit is perfect, with long, 
strong stems holding the bloom stiff and upright. 
A very attractive variety. $1.00 each. 
BERTHA PAULDING. (Alexander). A 
very striking variety for the garden, grow¬ 
ing five feet and over in height. The 
plant is strong and sturdy, producing a 
large number of blooms on long stems. 
The flowers are of an exquisite, deep, rose- 
pink, of good depth and with an open 
center. Altogether one of the best pinks 
of its type Price, $3.00 each. 
CARL PURDY. New Peony-flowered 
Seedling (to the credit of Mr. Vander¬ 
bilt of San Rafael, Cal.). A wonderful 
introduction in every respect. The flow¬ 
ers are very large, held erect on long, 
strong stems. Color, a bright, fiery 
scarlet. The plants are of excellent 
habit and of a particularly strong 
constitution. $2.00 each. 
COPPER. This is one of the best late 
California introductions, a marvel of 
beauty. An immense flower with very 
unique coloring: copper, shaded and 
tinted with bronze and apricot, with a 
suggestion of salmon-pink. The petals 
are broad, fluffy and twisted, giving a 
full, deep effect. Price, $2.00 each. 
MARY HOUGHTON. Alexander’s New Fra¬ 
grant Peony-flowered Dahlia. This intro¬ 
duction has a delicate but well defined 
pond-lily fragrance. The petals are of the 
Cactus-Peony type, being long, narrow and 
pointed at the tips. The plants are of 
excellent habit and bloom freely. The color 
is a light marrow-purple with a ring of 
waxy cadmium-yellow around the golden- 
yellow center, the reverse of petals being a 
beautiful rhodamine-purple. A most re¬ 
markable novelty. $3.50 each. 
MME. VAN BYSTEIN. A very distinct and 
new shade, lilac-blue throughout. Plants 
tall and sturdy, holding blooms well above 
the foliage. Large and fine. $1.00 each. 
MRS. J. H. BENTON. (Alexander). A large, 
full, deep flower with long, strong stems. The 
color is white, suffused a delicate yellow; the 
reverse of the petals are streaked carmine, which 
delicately tints the whole flower. Plants are 
very tall and vigorous. Really a beautiful vari¬ 
ety. Price, $3.00 each. 
Baron G. de Grancy, 25c each; $2.50 per dozen. 
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