Downs DaiiliX Farms— 
Clayton, New Jersey 
I didn’t want my picture here, but my Son thinks some of our customers might 
like to see what kind of looking man they’re dealing with—so here it is. Frost arrived 
last Fall just a day before the photographer, so I had to use some of the older pictures 
over again. Nevertheless, I hope you’ll like this list. 
It isn’t a very long one. I don’t believe in adding a variety just because it’s new; 
or discarding one just because it’s not so new. Every season we try out the new ones 
that looked good to us at the last Dahlia Shows, and test out other new ones recom- 
mended by competent Dahlia men. Then, if a new variety seems worthy, we offer it to 
you here the following Spring—and every year thereafter until a better kind crowds it off 
the list. I like to think of ours as sort of an experimental farm—testing out new Dahlias 
and making them pass a stiff examination before we offer them to you. Even then, I 
don’t claim we’re always right. 
You’ll find strong green plants offered of some of the newer and more expensive 
sorts. These little potted plants really aren’t hard to handle—just set them out like you 
would a tomato or cabbage plant, and shade them a bit for the next day or two if the sun gets pretty hot. They cost 
only half as much as roots of the same variety. 
WE KEEP OUR QUALITY HIGH AND OUR PRICES LOW IN THE HOPE OF GETTING YOUR 
ORDERS—AND WE’LL APPRECIATE EVERY ONE YOU SEND US. Unless yon state in your letter exactly 
when you want us to ship your Dahlias, we’ll send them when we think it’s best to plant in your section. We pay the 
carriage charges and send them by express or mail—whichever seems safest for the Dahlias. If you have any prefer- 
ence, either about delivery date or method of shipment, don’t hesitate to say so when you write. A. M. D. 
ADIRONDACK SUNSET- (Cackener). Brilliant scarlet, with 
canary at the base of the petals and golden orange on the tips of 
some of them. An informal decorative that we recommend highly— 
it will be one of the most popular Dahlias in any garden. 
Plants, $2.50 
ADORABLE. (Parkway). Peach color, shading to orange gold 
at the center. While we haven’t grown it yet, this “adorable” 
Dahlia has already been such an enviable prize winner that we feel 
very safe in recommending it. Plants, $2.50 
AUTUMN MOON. (Mad River). Light golden yellow, with 
tints of peach and amber—and a splendid grower, with fine stems. 
Supposed to be a formal decorative, but with us last season all 
but the very outside petals were rather tightly quilled. A good 
Dahlia, and big. Roots, $5.00; Plants, $2.50 
AVALON. (Broomall) By no means new—but in good soil 
without fertilizer or disbudding this big yellow decorative will grow 
easily to eight inches. It’s a very free bloomer and the centers are 
fine, but the largest flowers are so heavy that the stems just can’t 
hold them wholly upright. Nevertheless, we recommend it. 
Roots, $.25 
These are Dahlias on their bushes—NOT buckets filled 
with blooms. The variety is one we call Desperado—and are dis¬ 
carding because it doesn’t grow this well in all climates. We still 
have about sixty roots. If you want one, say so when you order 
other Dahlias and you can have it if there are any left. No 
promise, no charge, and no guarantee. Color: Bright reddish 
orange. 
This picture shows the type of Dahlia described as decora¬ 
tive.” The other principal classification is called “cactus —of 
■which you'll find an example in the picture of Golden Standard. 
Most other types range between these two. It also shows you that 
fairly large blooms can be produced without limiting your bush to 
three or four flowers. These bushes were three feet apart in the 
tow, with four feet between rows. 
BOSPHORUS. (Ballay). A fine, large informal decorative in a 
new color—a deep burnt orange or golden brown that shades to 
a lighter tone on the outside edge of the petals. We haven’t 
grown this one yet, and we haven’t much stock. Plants, $3.75 
BUCKEYE BRIDE. (Peck). Geranium pink. Some call this 
“peach color.” Waist high blooms on long stems that come way 
up from the ground. The flowers—fairly big to big—are beauti¬ 
ful; and it certainly does bloom. Pick it just before the outer 
petals flare backward toward the stem and you’ll find it's a splen¬ 
did keeper for cut flower purposes. Decorative. Roots, $.50 
BUCKEYE KING. (Peck). A formal decorative of clear, glow¬ 
ing amber yellow, with long straight stems that hold the big flower 
erect and facing you. The bushes are strong and very vigorous, 
throwing out many laterals which, the originator claims, should be 
disbudded all the way to their base for best results. A good keep¬ 
er, with commercial possibilities. Roots, $1.00; Plants, $.50 
CALIFORNIA IDOL. (Ballay). A true pastel shade of glisten- 
ging yellow. A deep informal decorative that is held high on 
long stems. Has already earned a reputation as one of the very 
best of last season’s introductions. Plants, $5.00 
CAMEO. (Sanhican). True coral-rose in color, with a glisten¬ 
ing golden sheen. On the reverse side the petals are deep rose 
pink, adding to the deep appearance of the bloom under artificial 
light. A medium tall grower, with long straight stems that hold 
the flower well above the dark green foliage. Informal decorative. 
Plants, $.75 
CAVALCADE. (Groll). Pink in a shade you never saw before 
and I can’t describe. As it grew with us, you won’t need to stake 
Cavalcade if you cut the top out early—in fact the bush, the stem, 
and the position in which the flower is held are just about perfect. 
The flowers are formal, very much like Jersey’s Beauty in type 
although much larger and of an entirely different shade of pink. 
We’re planting a lot of it. Roots, $5.00; Plants, $2.00 
CHARLIE CHAPLIN. (Chappaqua). Tawny orange yellow. A 
very large Dahlia with a distinctive shape—spiked tips to the out¬ 
side petals that give the impression of a many-pointed star. Good 
plant and stem. Looks like one the Dynamite Boys can grow as 
big as the top of a bucket. Roots, $5.00; Plants, $2.50 
CHAUTAUQUA REGAL. (Wallace). A rich and brilliant card¬ 
inal red formal, with ivory shadings on the back of each petal. 
Good bush, good stem and good growing habits. 
Roots, $3.00; Plants, $1.50 
CHAUTAUQUA SUNSET. (Wallace). One of the finest Dahl¬ 
ias—a magnificent combination of gold, orange and peach red. Big 
blooms that face the sky on long, stiff, straight stems. The bush 
is exceedingly robust and compact, and will give you some of the 
showiest and most beautiful blooms in your garden. Introduced 
four years ago at $25.00 per root, and was worth it. 
Roots, $3.00; Plants, $1.00 
CITY OF CLEVELAND. (Bissell). Vivid scarlet, splashed with 
orange, with the orange shades growing in dominance as the sea¬ 
son progresses. The informal decorative blooms are held upright 
on good strong stems. Plants, $2.50 
CITY OF TRENTON. (Prentiss) An immense full-centered 
formal decorative in the bronzy autumn shades—a rich glowing buff 
with a darker reverse to the petals. A splendid grower on a tall 
bush, with stiff straight stems and dark green foliage. Roots, $.50 
CLARA BARTON. (Salem). The general color effect is laven¬ 
der, though the petals are really pale orchid with a deep lavender 
on their reverse side. It’s a fine bloomer with good substance and 
has a long stem that holds the flower erect facing slightly upward. 
Plants, $1.25 
CORNELIA BRYCE PINCHOT. (Veile &? Mendham). A heavy, 
deep flower in a beautiful glowing burgundy red. A bit tempera¬ 
mental with us last season in a very wet location, but others report 
better success. Plants, $2-00 
