500 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
April 10, 1897. 
Whe Dahlia* — This Composite flower 
has undergone many changes since it 
was first introduced to European gardens in 
1789. It seems that the florists took to it 
at once with the object of improving it ; 
and the pliable nature of D. variabilis 
readily lent itself to the efforts of man to 
fashion it more to his own special liking. 
There were several failures m the early 
endeavour to cultivate and preserve the 
tuberous root ; but fresh introductions gave 
the cultivators plenty of opportunity of im¬ 
proving upon their treatment. Continental 
growers, it would appear, were more 
successful in preserving and improving the 
species than were British gardeners; so 
that we find evidence of the first double or 
semi-double varieties having been intro¬ 
duced from France in 1814. After that time 
great advances were made in the improve¬ 
ment of the species, until the shapely and 
refined show Dahlia was evolved and 
brought to a great pitch of refinement. 
The late Dr. Hogg wrote a book on Dahlias 
when a young man in the prime of life ; 
but up to the close of his career, he could 
not be brought to believe that Dahlias were 
any better now then they were 40 years ago, 
except in size, and that was done at the 
expense of refinement. He, of course, 
referred to the show Dahlia ; and perhaps 
after all he was not far wrong. Neverthe¬ 
less, size is one of the ruling passions of 
modern florists. 
Different times, different tastes, however, 
and i: might well be admitted that the 
developments among Dahlias since the 
fifties well merited being recorded. In 
any case Messrs.'Dobbie & Co., Rothesay, 
N.B., .have undertaken the duty by 
employing several well-known writers to 
treat of different phases of the history, 
propagation, botany, cultivation, and 
exhibition of the various types of Dahlirs 
grown and cherished in the gardens of to¬ 
day. A complete catalogue of the varieties 
grown and catalogued by several of the 
largest and most frequent exhibitors of 
Dahlias, arranged alphabetically in their 
respective types or sections, forms a kind of 
landmark that should be interesting and 
useful to future historians in bringing any 
given record down to date. The value of 
such lists is undoubtably greatly enhanced 
by the descriptions attached to each variety. 
Cactus and decorative Dahlias which were 
taken into public favour as recently as 1880 
(we shall not say originated, except we 
admit Juarezi as the first true Cactus type, 
for Dahlias with pointed and narrow petals 
were well known as early as 1828 and 
despised) are given in one list with an 
asterisk attached to those considered by 
the National Dahlia Society as the best 
Cactus types. We should have liked to see 
the two types defined and separated ; but 
we believe it would be a more difficult 
operation than the troublesome classification 
of Chrysanthemums ; more is the pity, for 
each race has a particular beauty of its 
own, and intermediates might well be 
eliminated, so that the two sections might 
stand on their own merit. 
We have for many years been tickled by 
the fanciful and artificial distinctions 
between a show and a fancy Dahlia, and 
the writer of the article treating of the 
various sections or types, admits the artifi¬ 
cial character of the limitations hedging 
the two races about. Would it not be 
simpler to limit the show Dahlia to self- 
coloured and shaded kinds. Edged flowers 
*The Dahlia : its History and Cultivation. 
By Richard Dean, F.R.H S., Robert Fife, F.R.H S., 
John Ballantyne, Stephen Jones, and William 
Cuthbertson, London : Macmillan and Co. Limited, 
New York : The Macmillan Company. Rothesay : 
Dobbie & Co , 1897 In cloth, is 6d. ; in stiff 
paper covers, is. 
might very well be classed with the fancy 
sorts ; for surely there is not much inherent 
difference between two varieties, one of 
which has the dark colour at the outer 
edges of the florets, and the other having 
the dark hue at the base. All parti¬ 
coloured, striped or variegated flowers 
might very easily be relegated to the fancy 
section, without prejudice either to the 
flowers or their exhibitors. Fancy Dahlias 
are equally as eligible for exhibition as 
those termed show varieties. Self or 
shaded flowers generally find the greatest 
number of admirers, as the highest type of 
refinement ; but where numbers are 
necessary, these variegated flowers add 
largely to the diversity of the show stands. 
Moreover, the Cactus and decorative types 
proclaim once for all that the general public 
will no longer be tied down to loving and 
admiring the old florists’ ideal of true beauty, 
which threatened to strangle the. Dahlia 
in public favour. The entirely different 
method which now prevails of exhibiting 
Cactus, decorative, pompon, single and 
single Cactus Dahlias, has undoubtedly 
taken the public fancy immensely in recent 
years, just as Japanese Chrysanthemums, 
and border Carnations have done in other 
directions. All these things are set forth 
in order in the book before us, so that the 
merest tyro need no longer despair of 
understanding all that it is necessary to 
know concerning the practical matters and 
classification of the flower he loves. The 
chapter on the botany of the Dahlia is not 
wasted space, for the rising generation of 
gardeners, who do not understand these 
things, loses much in more respects than 
one. To Dahlia lovers and would-be 
cultivators the book is well worth the 
money. 
--i.- 
Gardener’s Royal Benevolent Institution. — Mr. 
Arthur W. Sutton, of Messrs. Sutton & Sons, 
Reading, has given a donation of £100 to the 
"Victorian Era Fund," of this institution. 
Royal Horticultural Society.—The next fruit and 
floral meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society 
will be held on Tuesday, April 13th, in the Drill 
Hall, James Street, Westminster, in connection with 
which the National Auricula and Primula Society 
will hold their annual show, 1 to 5 p.m. A lecture 
will be given at 3 o’clock by Mr. J. J. Willis, on 
" Artificial Manures." 
Elementary Science Lectures for Children.—Mr. R. 
Lloyd Praegar, B.A. hasjust delivered the third of a 
series of six lectures for children, under the auspices 
of the Royal Dublin Society, Leinster House, Kildare 
Street, Dublin. He took for his subject “ Plants and 
their movements," following the science of the sub¬ 
ject as laid down by Darwin. The movements of 
roots, seedlings, and stems, but particularly climbiDg 
stems, were explained to a large audience. 
Tree-planting Association.—Very few trees adorn 
the streets of New York, owing to the fact that very 
few have been planted within recent years. Those 
still remaining in lower Fifth Avenue and side streets 
of that neighbourhood, show that trees will grow, and 
even thrive under suitable conditions in that populous 
city. The tree-planting Association has been formed 
to remedy this state of matters. It is calculated that 
20 dollars will pay for the planting and maintenance, 
of a handsome tree for two years, while it is calculated 
that 50 dollars would be necessary per tree for that 
time in Paris 
Spring flower show at the People's Palace.—The 
third annual spring show of the People’s Palace and 
East London Horticultural Society was held in the 
palace, Mile-end-road, on the 1st inst. There are 
now 381 members on the register, and at this exhibi¬ 
tion they mustered 251 entries, showing an increase 
on last year. There were about 100 pots of Hyacinths 
in good form. Tulips were also fairly good. The 
Society's Silver Medal for a collection of plants was 
awarded to Mr. A. J. Foster, who deserved it. Mr. F. 
W. Barnes received a Bronze Medal for three plants in 
flower ; and Mr. H. A. Woodbridge got a similar 
award for three foliage plants. The show was con¬ 
tinued for three days, 
The Rainfall in London during January, February 
and March of the present year, according to the rain 
gauge measurements taken by the Royal Botanic 
Society, Regent’s Park, was 862m. This is about 
2in., in excess of the rainfall during the same period 
for any year in the past 10. 
A Pea pill story.—It is said that a Birmingham 
man bought a box of pills at a local huckster's shop, 
and took some of them without the slightest effect. 
He placed the rest in a cupboard, which being 
damp, the supposed pills began to grow, producing a 
green shoot. Examination of the pills proved them 
to be white Peas covered with some white coating. 
Cedars in Goodwood Park.—Having ascertained 
that it is possible to raise Cedars from seed, the Duke 
of Richmond has resolved on planting them exten¬ 
sively in Goodwood Park and pleasure grounds this 
year, in commemoration of Her Majesty’s T ongreign. 
The gales that prevailed during March blew down 
eleven of the fine trees of Cedrus Libani, which form 
the remnant of the 1,000 planted on the estate by 
Charles, the third Duke. 
Newcastle-upon-Tyne Summer Flower Show.—We 
have received a copy of the schedule of prizes to be 
offered for competition at the Newcastle Flower 
Show, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 8th, 9th 
and 10th July, in the Recreation Ground. Since 
last year the schedule has been increased in several 
instances. The following are some of the principal 
prizes: —Roses, £75; table decorations, £23; 
Pansies, /14; and herbaceous flowers, £13. The 
committee have arranged to re-strike the medal of 
the society, and gold, silver, and bronze medals are 
included in this j-ear's schedule Copies may be had 
on application to the secretary, Mr. Jas. J. Gillespie, 
Jun , A.C.A , B.A., LL.B., Cross House Chambers, 
54, Westgate Road, Newcastle-on-Tyne. 
London Wild Birds.—The County Council of 
Middlesex has applied to the Home Secretary, 
asking him to enforce the new Act of August last, 
which gives greater powers for the protection of wild 
birds than the Amended Wild Birds Protection Act 
of 189P The Home Secretary has enacted a “ close 
time " for the whole year in favour of more than 50 
birds, which inhabit or visit the county. Singing 
birds, such as the lark, nightingale, linnet, goldfinch, 
and various warblers are included in ihe list. The 
cuckoo, owl, magpie, woodpecker, nightjar, tomtit, 
chaffinch, kingfisher, blackcap, and swallow now 
enjoy the same protection. As far as we know, no 
mention is made of sparrows and wood pigecns, 
which are amongst the commonest of birds in 
Lund >n. The latter are quite tame in Hyde Park, 
and the other day we noted one nesting in a tree close 
to South Kensington station. The domestic or rock 
pigeon is very abundant about St. Paul’s and the 
Law Courts, where they may be seen dodging 
vehicular traffic as well as pedestrians, picking up 
food. They are perfectly tame, and we hope to see 
many others accepting the companionship of man 
and enjoying his hospitality. 
Carshalton, Beddington, and Wallington Horti¬ 
cultural Society held its annual dinner in the Public 
Hall, Carshalton, on the evening of Wednesday, 
March 31st. The platform was prettily decorated 
with Palms and flowering plants, and at the other 
end of the hall tastefully arranged groups of plants 
were contributed by Messrs. J. Peed & Sons and 
Messrs. Silver & Co. Mr. H. Cosmo Bonsor, M.P., 
presided, and was supported by Mr. E. J. Halsey 
(Chairman of the Surrey County Council) and 
various other gentlemen of note. After the usual 
loyal toasts had been honoured, the chairman gave 
the toast of the evening, "The Beddington, Car¬ 
shalton, and Wallington Horticultural Society," and 
in the course of his remarks spoke of the extensive 
system of horticultural education which was in 
practice in the county of Surrey, and bore testimony 
to the value of the work which their society had 
accomplished. Mr. Smee, in responding, endorsed 
the chairman’s remarks concerning the horticultural 
education given to the inhabitants of Surrey. Their 
society, too, had grown very steadily, and they had 
been able to put by money, and at the present time 
had from £112 to £114 in hand against a rainy day. 
A lengthy toast list was got through, and the pro¬ 
ceedings were enlivened by vocal and instrumental 
music contributed by the " London Glee Singerst" 
