East Bridgewater Dahlia Gardens J. K. Alexander , East Bridgewater , Massachusetts 
Cactus Dahlias 
The greatest and most phenomenal type of all 
Dahlias; showing the most remarkable develop¬ 
ment, and being far superior to the other classes. 
My collection of Cactus Dahlias is the finest and 
most up-to-date in existence; the result of a care¬ 
ful selection of the introductions of every Dahlia 
specialist and hybridizer; in realty the very cream 
of the Cactus Dahlia-world. We import Dahlias 
from all over the world, testing in our trial 
grounds several thousand. The following varie¬ 
ties have withstood our ordeals; as to quality, 
ability to flower, and general perfection. 
Sincerely believing the time has come when 
there should be a distinction between the differ¬ 
ent types of Cactus Dahlia, I take this opportun¬ 
ity to divide the Cactus Dahlia into three classes. 
The Incurved Cactus, The Straight-petaled Cactus, 
and The Hybrid Cactus. The very fact that the 
term Cactus Dahlia is deceiving, leads me to make 
The Incurved 
this distinction. It is so general, and the shape 
so different, that I think it best to make a more 
definite division. In the exhibition hall, the Cac¬ 
tus Dahlia is the cause of considerable discussion ; 
we claim we should distinguish the modern in¬ 
curved and tightly quilled Cactus from the broad, 
flat-petaled Hybrid Cactus, that they are of higher 
quality, and not in the same class. That in judg¬ 
ing, the type should be considered, and where they 
are all classed as Cactus Dahlias, they are upon 
the same equal; while in reality they are far 
from it. With the following divisions, there is 
sufficient distinction, to warrant classification and 
exhibiting of each variety in their individual class. 
The Incurved Cactus Dahlia; those with quilled 
and incurved petals or florets; the Straight- 
petaled Cactus Dahlia, the quilled straight-petaled 
Cactus, the Hybrid Cactus Dahlia, with broad, 
straight, slightly quilled and pointed petals. 
Cactus Dahlia 
The wonderful advances in the development of 
the Cactus Dahlia during the past two or three 
years, has been so great that it has changed the 
“old-fashioned” straight-petaled Cactus Dahlia far 
beyond our realization. 
Instead of broad, straight-quilled Cactus Dahlia, 
which was a revelation twenty years ago, we have 
a Cactus Dahlia resembling the Chrysanthemum. 
Cactus Dahlias with very narrow tightly-quilled 
petals, showing an inclination to become clutched 
or incurved; more improved forms, with long, very 
tightly-quilled, narrow petals, which are so grace¬ 
fully and effectively incurved, twisted, and inter¬ 
laced, as to almost meet at the center; and a few 
varieties which have reached still greater perfec¬ 
tion, in addition to having very long, narrow 
petals, and being tightly quilled, incurved, twisted 
and interlaced; they are irregularly whorled and 
re-twisted, giving a most unique appearance— 
fairly outrivaling the Chrysanthemum. 
Phenomenal New Incurved English Cactus Dahlias for 1917 
This collection of phenomenal Incurved Cactus Cactus Dahlia to date. The flowers are not only 
Dahlias is the very highest and finest type of of largest size, and exquisite color, but possess the 
most wonderful and latest type of the Cactus 
Dahlia, the florets are exceptionally 
long, very narrow, and so tightly 
quilled, incurved, twisted and inter¬ 
laced, as to almost meet at the cen¬ 
ter. These varieties created a great 
sensation in England this past sea¬ 
son, winning overwhelmingly over 
all other Dahlias, and holding both 
amateur and professional in amaze¬ 
ment. They captured many gold 
and silver medals, silver cups, 
and numerous first-class cer¬ 
tificates and awards of merit. 
This collection of 14 Phe¬ 
nomenal New Incurved and 
tightly-quilled English Cactus 
Dahlias I will ship prepaid to 
any part of the United States 
for $10.00. 
DOROTHY HAWES, Phenom¬ 
enal New Incurved English 
Cactus Dahlia—The origina¬ 
tors of this variety claim it 
to be one of their greatest 
successes. The flowers are 
not only large, but of mar¬ 
velous depth as well. The 
great number of long florets 
that incurve and interlace 
in an irregular yet beautiful 
manner, make this a splen¬ 
did specimen of the very latest 
type of Cactus Dahlia. The color 
has been described as cerise, and 
as ruby-red, but clear rosy-purple 
is perhaps the best description. 
The stems are pendant, but for 
exhibition it is indispensable. 
$1.00 each. 
Uranus—Incurved Cactus Dahlia (See page 10). 
FRANCIS WHITE, New Incurved 
English Cactus Dahlia—Although 
white Cactus Dahlias are now 
fairly plentiful, there is room for 
this addition owing to its distinct 
form, the florets curing and twist¬ 
ing cork-screw fashion, as well as 
being very narrow. $1 each. 
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