1882 .] 
NEW SHOW DAHLIAS.-LOUISE BONNE DE PRINTEMPS PEAR. 
17 
NEW SHOW DAHLIAS. 
[Plate 555.] 
lUHE enthusiasm with which the Dahlia— 
L| i the Queen of Autumn flowers—was 
cultivated some quarter of a century 
ago, has in some measure cooled 
down during the past few years, partly, no 
doubt, owing to the lack of the stimulus 
given by exhibitions worthy of the name. 
Now, however, another turn of the wheel of 
fortune seems to be about to bring it again 
into popularity, for we learn that the prin¬ 
cipal growers are concerting measures to 
hold a Grand National Show of these flowers 
during the ensuing autumn, “ in order to 
give the public an opportunity to see the 
many beautiful varieties of all classes, which 
are now to be found in collections of Dahlias, 
whether cultivated for exhibition purposes or 
for garden decoration.” This show has been 
fixed to take place at the Crystal Palace, on 
the 8th and 9th of September next, which 
being in the height of the Dahlia season may be 
expected to he well supported, as it is intended 
that liberal prizes should be offered. 
No doubt since any great show of Dahlias 
has been held, both the flower and its cultiva¬ 
tion have gone on improving. This is a good 
reason for now bringing it prominently before 
the public ; but we think the introduction of 
the beautiful little Pompons, and the highly 
decorative Single-flowered varieties of certain 
well-known types, will have largely increased 
the constituency of Dahlia admirers, and we 
therefore look forward to the ensuing ex¬ 
hibition as likely to be a successful and 
welcome demonstration. 
We have always been advocates of the now 
popular Single Dahlias, than which—if the 
dwarf-growing varieties of the true coccinea 
and gracilis types are selected'—no more 
showy or pleasing border flowers are to be 
found. The little Pompons also come into 
the same category, and, especially those dwarf 
varieties which throw the flowers well out of 
the foliage, are admirably adapted for flower- 
garden decoration. Neither of these groups 
appear, or are put forward, as the rivals of the 
good old-fashioned show Dahlias which exhibit 
all the “ properties ” required by the florist, 
these occupying an entirely different platform, 
but they all find admirers, who take pleasure 
in their cultivation, and peradventure may 
sometimes be found growing side by side. 
The varieties we now figure belong to the 
show class, and we are indebted to Mr. 
Charles Turner, of Slough, for the blooms 
here pictured. Fig. 1 represents Pioneer, 
one of the darkest of Dahlias, darker even 
than the old Essex Rival, which has long 
since gone out of cultivation, and which 
according to the present ideas as to form, had 
nothing but its deep rich colour to recommend 
it. Pioneer, on the other hand, is finely 
formed, of good average size, and of a free 
dwarf habit; the colour appears almost black, 
so intense is the shading which pervades the 
dark maroon florets. Fig. 2, Duchess of 
Wellington, a dwarf free-habited variety, if 
not so perfect in the form of its blooms as 
Pioneer, has the pleasing characteristics of 
a pure white ground, with deep crimson tips, 
a class of flowers we are getting short of, 
Lady Gladys Herbert, which is one of the 
best, being not only wanting in form but also 
in depth. Both varieties were raised by the 
Rev. C. Fellowes, Shotesham Rectory, to 
whom we owe the production of so many of 
our popular and best exhibition varieties, and 
both are remarkable on account of their dis¬ 
similarity from existing kinds.—T. Moore. 
LOUISE BONNE DE PRINTEMPS PEAR. 
HERE is something captivating in the 
name of this Pear, the Louise Bonne 
of Jersey being so well known and 
appreciated, that the thought of secur¬ 
ing a little of its goodness in spring ( printemps ) 
makes every one almost long to secure this 
Louise Bonne de Printemps. It is not quite a 
new Pear, having been raised by Boisbunel in 
1857, and has been cultivated in the Royal 
Horticultural Society’s Gardens for some 10 
or 15 years, where it has occasionally fruited, 
and been occasionally favourably reported on. 
Amongst late spring Pears it is probably worthy 
of a place, but it bears no comparison with its 
autumn namesake. The Congres Pomologique 
of France discarded it; but nevertheless at 
Chiswick it has this present season proved 
very good indeed in quality, though, like all 
