38 
THE GABDENING WOBLD. 
September 21, 1889. 
appear delicate. On the other hand, I have noticed 
very large plants grown out of doors in large tubs in 
the vicinity of London bearing flowers of various 
shades, from the normal pink to a deep blue, on the 
selfsame plant. Furthermore, larger bushes planted 
in the open ground in a warm, maritime locality 
exhibited even greater vegetative vigour, while the 
huge trusses of flowers exhibited various shades, from 
the green expanding bud to pink, pale blue, and deep 
purplish blue. From this circumstance I cannot agree 
with the statement of opinion chat the abnormal 
colouration is brought about by a morbid condition of 
the roots, caused by a cold ungenial soil. On the 
other hand, I may state that the largest plant of this 
Hydrangea which I have ever seen was grown under 
glass. It was the result of many years’ culture, and 
visitors to the exhibition where it was shown, not 
inaptly compared the plant to a little hay-stack. The 
flowers were of the normal pink. 
As far as the primary colour of the Hydrangea is 
concerned, it is probable that white was the first 
development after the original green hue of the flowers. 
If this should seem an imaginary notion, we can refer 
to the order Saxifragacece as a whole, in which, although 
rose, red, and yellow hues are more or less numerous, 
yet white is the most prevalent throughout, occurring 
even in numerous genera where some of the species 
have rose, red, or yellow flowers, such, for instance, as 
in the case of Saxifraga, Escallonia, and Hydrangea. 
Most species of the latter have white blooms when 
fully expanded, and there is one or more white varieties 
of H. hortensis which may be considered as reversions 
to an ancestral condition. The flowers of H. paniculata 
are at first greenish, but expand of a pure white. 
When plants are grown in the open air, the flowers 
ultimately fade to a pale green, or in some soils to a 
bright pink. Blue is far from prevalent in the order, 
if, indeed, it occurs outside of the genus Hydrangea. 
Besides H. hortensis, another plant grown under the 
name of H. Thunbergii produces blue flowers. The 
central part of the truss bears small and normal blooms 
only, while the calyx of those on the circumference of 
the cyme are enlarged, as in the common garden 
species, and develop beautiful shades of rose, red, and 
deep lively blue.— F. 
-->:ro- 
HISTORY OP THE DAHLIA. 
By Shirley Hibberd. 
(Concluded from p. 23.,) 
From the year 1832 the advance in floral qualities was 
rapid and decisive. There was no conflict between 
“North and South” as to the judging. The type of 
flower in fashion thirty years ago is admirably shown 
in the treatise on The Dahlia , by Robert Hogg, 
publish;d by Groombridge, 1853, for herein we find 
the true precursors of the splendid show flowers that 
now rank highest in the esteem of cultivators ; the 
petals are no longer pointed, but rounded and smooth, 
and so even with the periphery of the flower, as to 
secure from every point of view an unbroken outline, 
while the crown is higher and more refined, and in 
respect of size the flower comes very near to the present 
standard. In this work Mr. John Edwards, president 
of the National Floricultural Society, at one time 
collaborates with Mr. E. S. Dodwell, pronounced 
Aellow Standard the finest flower he had seen until he 
obtained from it a variety named Mrs. Hansard, which 
is figured in Hogg’s book as a flower of a soft primrose 
colour, with white tips, reminding me of the present 
Mrs. Saunders. Mr. Edwards reports that he sold 
this for £5 to a Dahlia trading firm, known as The 
Metropolitan Union, respecting which it would be out 
of season for me to give any particulars. 
Species of Dahlia. 
It is an interesting question how many species of 
Dahlias we may have in cultivation. Taking the 
species reported in the order of their appearing, we 
have Dahlia coccinea, otherwise D. frustranea, the 
barren-rayed Dahlia, introduced to Madrid, and figured 
by Cavan files in his leones. The figure of this in the 
Botanical Magazine of 1801 (t. 762), displays such a 
flower as we may now find in any garden where seedling 
singles obtain attention, and it is one we should now 
discard as too small for any purpose. The more famous 
D. variabilis or D. superflua, the fertile-rayed Dahlia, 
was probably also one of the three secured for the first 
Madrid set, and as figures of it abound, I select three 
only for special mention in connection with the earlier 
history. The Botanical Magazine of 1817 contains two 
figures, one of a single red flower with broad petals, 
coming near to a show flower of the present day ; the 
other a double purple of small size, with narrow-pointed 
florets, and such as we may now speak of as in its day a 
quite promising flower. A grand figure of the single D. 
superflua is that in the Botanical Magazine, t. 55, above 
referred to, and the date 1815 doubtless shows that it 
was obtained from Paris. The plant introduced by 
Fraser in 1802, was D. frustranea, the barren-rayed 
Dahlia, which in common with the others had been lost 
to cultivation. These two appear to be equally variable, 
and are probably not specifically distinct, so that we 
may encourage the belief that the Dahlia, as a show 
flower, is of pure descent, its variations being the con¬ 
sequence of a potentiality of its own and not of any 
mixing of species or hybridisation. 
In 1837 was introduced from Mexico D. Barkeri®, a 
pleasing form, probablyj'not 'specifically distinct from 
the foregoing. In 1840 D. glabrata was obtained from 
Mexico, and figured in The Botanical Register, t. 29, 
and The Botanical Magazine, 3878. It is smooth and 
distinctly lobed in the leaf, and has a neat and 
pleasing habit, being smaller than D. variabilis, of 
which it is a variety. The noble D. iraperialis is 
certainly distinct, and with all its imperial qualities, it 
does not now concern us more than to record that 
it first flowered in the Zurich garden in 1862, and 
has not as yet become established as a garden favourite 
anywhere in Europe, through lacking the first 
conditions of manageableness and seasonable display. 
To our dear old friend, the late John Salter, of 
Hammersmith, belongs the credit of having first taught 
the Imperial Dahlia how to behave as a garden plant. 
The Decadence of the Flower. 
Between the great days of the Dahlia, and its eclipse 
for ten years that closed with the institution of this 
society, it was seen how little to be trusted were 
great corporations having universal aims, with the 
interests of such a flower. From the beginning of the 
world until now, it seems that the florists have had 
cause to complain of the indifference of such represen¬ 
tatives of horticultural omniscience as the Royal 
Horticultural, Royal Botanic, and Royal Manchester 
societies, the Crystal Palace, Alexandra Palace, and the 
organisations for great floral fetes, and the diffusion of 
light from and for the garden in all our great centres 
of light and leading. The practical outcome of the 
long-cultivated discontent is seen in the National 
Societies for the representation of the Tulip, Auricula, 
Carnation, Dahlia, Chrysanthemum, and other popular 
favourites. The Crystal Palace became a kind of home 
for the Rose and the Dahlia, in consequence of the 
appearance of these flowers at seasons when the great 
public were apt to be moved by pleasant weather to 
recognise, and as we sweetly say ‘ ‘ patronise, ” the glories 
of the garden. The Dahlia shows at the Crystal Palace 
in a long run of years were delightful as bringing 
together Dahlias, Gladioli, Hollyhocks, and other 
autumnal flowers ; but they came to an end in the year 
1869, simply because, as the managers reported, they 
had ceased to pay. Thereupon was formed the 
“Metropolitan Society for the Encouragement of 
Florists’ Flowers,” the principal promoter of which was 
our excellent friend and faithful florist, the Rev. H. H. 
D’Ombrain. This society held its first exhibition at 
the Crystal Palace on September 7th, 1870, and though 
Dahlias were the leading subjects, there were also good 
displays of Roses, Hollyhocks, Asters, and Gladioli. 
The same society was in action at the Crystal Palace in 
1871 and 1872. In 1873 there was no show, for 
arrangements had been made for holding a show at the 
Alexandra Palace, but the place was burned to the 
ground, and it was impossible to hold a Dahlia show 
amid the ruins. In 1874 there was no exhibition. In 
1875 the Metropolitan Society held an autumn show in 
the Alexandra Palace, and that was its last act and 
deed, although the dying speech was not then pro¬ 
nounced ; in fact was never pronounced, for the thing 
died quietly. 
But the Dahlia did not die, nor were the ten years 
of its eclipse a loss to its history, for, in truth, while 
under the cloud and obscured from the public vision it 
was like any other honest flower that darkness has 
fallen upon, preparing itself for the light of a new day. 
In that wonderful fifteenth chapter of the First Epistle 
to the Corinthians, St. Paul, seeking for a familiar 
image of an occult fact, says, “ that which thou sowest 
is not quickened except it die.” It will not be irreverent 
to perceive somewhat of an illustration of this appeal 
to nature in the eclipse for a season and ultimate 
recovery of the Dahlia in the sunshine of public favour, 
because it was in the mind and heart of man that both 
took place. There was seen upon the horizon of the 
world of flowers the original Dahlia of 17S9 ; the simple 
Mexican flower known as the single Dahlia suddenly 
acquired popularity, as though its beauties were per¬ 
ceived for the first time, just as some particular star 
may become visible and obtain universal attention that 
would not have been seen except through the accident 
of an eclipse. The single Dahlia lighted us through 
the darkness until the florist’s Dahlia emerged from the 
gloom, and the way was prepared for a new study and 
a new love of this magnificent flower, one result of 
which is that doubles and singles now divide empire 
between them, as in the celestial order of the earthly 
seasons the month of May, the “sweet of the year,” is 
ruled by Gemini the twins. Concurrently with 
The Revival of the Single Flowers 
as subjects of special attention, there came into the 
floral firmament quite a new star known as the Cactus 
Dahlia, and this, having given birth to a numerous 
progeny, the Cactus family may be said to form a con¬ 
stellation for us, perhaps as beautiful as the Pleiades, 
but already exceeding them in number. Indeed I have 
seen as many as twenty varieties of the Cactus group in 
one border. It was on the 3rd of September, 1880, that 
the parent star arose on our horizon, for on that date 
Mr. H. Cannell, of Swanlev, presented at the fruit 
show in Alexandra Palace, the first flowers of Dahlia 
Jaurezii seen in this country. This distinct and 
beautiful variety is not a descendant of Brown’s Glow¬ 
worm, as may appear to be suggested by a remark I have 
made, but is an independent and original introduction 
from Mexico, in the year 1872, by Mr. J. T. Vanderberg, 
of Juxphaar, near Utrecht, with whom it flowered in 
1873. Messrs. Ant. Roozen, of Overveen, obtained it, 
and supplied roots to Mr. W. H. Cullingford, of 
Kensington, who thus became the introducer of the 
noble flower to England, and through him it passed 
into the hands of Mr. Cannell, who secured for it a place 
of high rank in public favour. It was figured and its 
history recorded in the Garden newspaper, May 7th, 
1881 ; since when there has become established a con¬ 
siderable family of Cactus varieties, greatly to the 
advantage of our gardens and exhibitions. 
To return to the cold current of dates and circum¬ 
stances : in 1876 it was seen that the Metropolitan 
Society for the Encouragement of Florists’ Flowers 
had closed its brief career, and the Dahlia was in the 
position of virtue in a wicked world where none could 
deny its beauty, but there were not many who would 
fight in its defence. If I were asked to give an ex¬ 
planation for the collapse of this thing, I should say 
that its great size made a small thing of it: the aim 
was to gather into one body a number of elements that 
certainly were not and are not discordant, but they 
are without any necessary principle of cohesion, and it 
appears to be impossible for cultivators of Tulips, 
Auriculas, Carnations, Dahlias, Hollyhocks, and 
Chrysanthemums—to name a few subjects only—to pull 
together and share in a common fund with combined 
energies for the promotion of flowers that demand, for 
their full measure of justice, individual enthusiasm 
and sympathy, in place of the corporate omniscience 
measured with red tape that is an inevitable character¬ 
istic of societies formed for large and general purposes. 
These considerations tend to show that special societies 
are absolutely needful in floriculture, and 
The National Dahlia Society’, 
which came into existence in the year 1881, and held 
its first show at the Crystal Palace, September Sth and 
9th, 1882, needs no better justification than a plain 
record of the facts that immediately led up to its for¬ 
mation. May its shadow increase ! I beg pardon, it 
casts no shadow, for, like the sun, it is a source of 
light. May its light shine strong and far, and prove 
continuous, for the advantage of this nation that has 
so readily yielded to the persuasions of town life, and 
would doubtless perish of inanition were the horticul¬ 
turists ever to slacken in their efforts to render town 
life and trade pursuits endurable by the disguising of 
their harsh lines and discordant colours with the 
wreaths of flowers that seem to bring the breath of 
Paradise into our midst in aid of bodily health and 
spiritual joy. Alas ! alas ! at the graveside we are 
accustomed to say in the midst of life we are in death. 
Here, amid these glorious flowers, I feel compelled to 
show the money-box, for as lovers must dine, and the 
soul of poetry in some measure lives on vulgar pen and 
ink—perhaps in its poverty has to steal paper—so 
the Dahlia needs pecuniary support, and I ask you all 
to join at once the National Dahlia Society, and I 
would now exact a pledge from every old member to 
bring in a new member, and every new member to bring 
ten at least, for when a man enters a thing of this sort 
his connection is like young humanity, and should 
readily take contagion of his example. 
