December 13, 1913. 
THE GARDENERS’ MAGAZINE. 
949 
% TRIAL OF DECORATIVE GARDEN I 
t DAHLIAS AT DUFFRYN. i 
To the splendid dahlia trials carried out 
at Duffryn this year on behalf of the Royal 
Horticultural Society and the National 
Dahlia Society we have already referred at 
some length, and we have published illustra¬ 
tions of certain features of the trials. The 
official report, drawn up by the two societies, 
has now been issued, and we have much plea¬ 
sure in publishing such an interesting and in¬ 
structive account; 
By the kindness of Mr. Reginald Cory, 
those trials took place in his charming 
grounds at Duffryn to demonstrate the value 
of the dahlia as a decorative garden subject, 
and with this end in view all the 
rasLcrs in this country and some on 
the Continent were invited to send plants’ of 
every section of the flower they deemed to 
be valuable as decorative garden plants. The 
response was far in excies sof all anticipa¬ 
tions, for nearly a thousand distinct varie¬ 
ties were sent in, some as pot roots, others 
as green plants, the whole number mustering 
between seven and eight thousand plants, 
truly a gigantic total; and when it is re¬ 
membered what a strong point it is to make 
an early start and grow on without a check, 
so as to ensure early flowering, one can 
imagine how this vast number must have 
taxed even the glass resources of Duffryn, 
especially as the majority of the plants were 
potted on as they required it into six, seven, 
and eight-inch pots. 
The trial was quite unique, inasmuch as it 
differed from the row-after-row type of trial, 
for they were planted in a series of gardens, 
in beds, on borders, as bank plants, and even 
as ‘"dot” plants for summer bedding. The 
various sections were planted together as far 
as possible, while the shades of colouring 
were also associated harmoniously; the vary¬ 
ing height of. the plants was also studied, 
the whole producing an effect absolutely dif¬ 
ferent from the usual trials of such subjects. 
The cultural details were more simple, for 
the soil appeared to be a good holding loam, 
which had been deeply cultivated, a light 
dressing of pit manure applied, and at plant¬ 
ing time each plant was placed in a station 
of sifted potting mould. "Die necessary 
support to the plant was a single stake, to 
which the growls were looped up; thinning 
out or disbudding was strictly forbidden, so 
that all the varieties in their respective sec¬ 
tions were on the same plane. 
This briefly sums up the cultivation of fhe 
plants in this trial, except, of course, the 
watering of the plants necessitated by tte 
dry season during their growing 
which was never neglected, needless to add, 
with the result that when visited by the 
Joint Committee of the two societies on Sep¬ 
tember 3 and 4 they presented a glorious di^ 
play, which called for unanimous thanks to 
Mr. Cory and for unstinted admiration of the 
excellent results achieved. . . 
The cactus section was the largest in point 
of numbers, there being approximately two 
hundred andi fifty varieties. They were, 
however, in the "opinion of the com^ttee, 
the least satisfactory section, for numbers o 
them did not possess the faintest conception 
of being decorative garden plants. As 
consequence, only thirty-three 
sidered worthy of award. It 
added, however, that other varieties would 
no doubt improve at a later date. 
Next in importance, as far as 
oonoerned, was the 
I^is was represented by about two nun 
varieties, and as a mass' of colouring ^ 
plants were exquisite, but their 
heights rather told against them, as toy 
theVneral effect was^ncemed This 
he avoided if the seasons oould only 
gauged, as the growth of individual va 
ties depends so much on the weather, lliis 
trial, Jiowever, demonstrated quite clearly 
that the newer forms possess better stems and 
more lasting flowed than those raised earlier. 
Ihirty-two varieties secured the approval of 
the committee. 
The oollerette section was represented by 
about one hundred and fifty varieties, a for- 
midable Ust for such a late aspirant to public 
favour; still, at the date of inspection they 
produced the greatest impression, for they 
were literally masses of flower, due doubtless 
to their free-flowering propensities, shy 
varieties being quite rare in their ranks. 
However, only twenty-three varieties were 
honoured. 
The decorative section is very difficult to 
define, consisting as it does at the present 
time of all those varieties which cannot be 
placed in any other recognised section, and 
in this trial many large-flowering varieties 
had been sent, which would be handsome for 
vase decoration, but, as garden decorative 
plants, belied their description. Many were 
evidently late-flowering varieties, and auite 
unsuitable for such a trial. Nearly a hun¬ 
dred varieties were represented, but only 
twelve met with approval. 
The cringle section produced a fine effect. 
There were about a hundred varieties, and at 
the time of inspection those were quite in 
their best form. Sixteen varieties were re¬ 
commended by the committee. 
The pompon varieties were represented by 
about sixty kinds, which ^^e much ad¬ 
mired for their decorative effect. These little 
Lilliputians had, however, overgrown their 
allotted space, and, unlike the -other sections, 
were somewhat crowded. Nevertheless t^y 
secured twenty-six recommendations, the 
highest percentage in the whole trial, except 
in quite the minor sections. ^ ^ , ... 
The show and fancy varieties totolled fifty, 
and some of them, though somewhat formal 
when compared with other sections, were uu. 
doubtedly highly decorative as ga^em plants, 
and ten varieties (most of them old oo^) se¬ 
cured the necessary number of marks for an 
^^The pompon or miniature cactus varieties 
found the soil at Duffryn much too congemal 
for their requirements, and in n^t cases 
had produced flowers beyond their normal 
size. Five varieties, however were ^m- 
mended out of a total of twenty-five 
sectioni entered as bedd^ varieti^ 
wais rather misleading, bs it iinciud^ 
all the types; the five, however sel^t^ by 
the committee, were all ex^lent in their 
spective classes, though there were 
oMorms in the other sections that would be 
equally well placed under ^bis eatery. 
The^Mignon section was quite a small toI- 
lection but a very noteworthy one, the 
flowers single, and growing about eighteen 
fnches high, with bright, well-defined c^toure, 
each flower carried erect; a very fine section 
.»5‘ r! 
flowers are handsome, they appear to l^k 
tCfreedom so eesentaal to decorative garden 
^WWe the Star dahlias did not on this oc- 
riision secure the support of the ^mmittee, 
thev certainly produced a blaze of 
Ih^gar^. IhSngh of a somewhat bizarre 
'’‘iCparisian singles and 
tiQ a whole sufficiently advanced m 
r^'^th to iudZe ol’ tCr meite, with e™ 
e® cation W continental varieties arr^^ 
l^te that they had ^tte growth, 
’and were not in flower on Sep^ber 3. 
be continued.) 
HORTICULTURE AT THE 
ANGLO-AMERICAN 
EXPOSITION, 1914. 
The Anglo-American Exposition, which 
will be held at the White City, Shepherd s 
Bush. ne.xt year, has for its object the cele¬ 
bration in a fitting manner of the hundi^ 
>vars of neiMH' and progress between the F:ng. 
hsh-Hpeaking peopVs since the Treaty of 
Ghent in 1814. It has been felt that no 'more 
appropriate means of celebration could be 
adopted than a magnificent joint disfday, 
'showing the gains which have acem^ 
to mankind through this peaceful develop¬ 
ment of Great Britain and the United States 
of America during the |>ast century. 
As be<>omes an exhibition illustrative, in 
the fullest possible M?nse. of the activities of 
two grtHit nations famous for the prominent 
part have taken in the advancement of 
the gajxfening art in its varied aK|>ects, de¬ 
monstrations of both American and British 
horticulture are being organised on as com. 
nrehensive a scale as pomible. FVom "whot 
has already l>een accomplished, it is Indieved 
that these demonstrations will be equally 
remarkable for their lieauty, interest, and 
usefulness, and will prove a* great source of 
attraction to visitors from both sidm of the 
Atlantic. 
Tliis section of the Exposition L. being or¬ 
ganised by the rommittee of Horticulture, 
Arboriculture, and Forestry, which includes 
among its sixty memlierH the foremost horti¬ 
culturists, arlxiriculturistti, and forestry ex¬ 
perts of the present time, who have aiio had 
much experience in the organisation of exhi. 
bitions of the highest class. The committet* 
has alreadv made considerable progress, and 
formulated a scheme which there is good 
reason for lielieving will ensure a represen¬ 
tation of horticulture, arboriculture, and 
forestry w»orthy of the two great nations in¬ 
terested. 
.\dec|uate provision has been made for 
the displa^ns of rock and water gardening, 
which have of late years attained to so high a 
state of development, more especially in this 
country. A large area on the western side 
of the grounds will be placed at the disposal 
of those who are specially interested in this 
fascinating branch of the gardening art. 
Hardy herbaceous plants, now so popular 
with all classes of the flower-loving commu¬ 
nity, will not be less liberally provided for, 
and the spacious Court of Pr^ess has been 
allotted to them and to Engli^ formal gar¬ 
dens and rhododendrons, and here the firms . 
who devote special attention to tbesip impor¬ 
tant classes of plants wdll show their taste 
in arrangement and skill in cultivation. 
Roses, in view of their importance and 
popularity, will have much space devoted to 
them; and under the scheme the Elite Gar¬ 
dens will be almost wholly occupied by these 
fragrant flowers. Ornamental trees and 
shrubs, which have had so many valuable 
addiitions made to them, as the result of the 
explorations in Western China within re¬ 
cent years, should also constitute a great 
feature of much interest and usefulness. In¬ 
deed, arrai^ements are being made for the 
representation of many other classes of 
plants that can be successfully grown in 
the open during the summer months. 
Forestry, which is now being recognised in 
this country as of immense importance, lx>th 
to landowners and the general community, 
is receiving special attention, and the scheme 
that is now engaging the attention of a 
•special committ^ of excerts will, it is 
fully believed, ensure an adequate repref^en- 
tation of the varied aspects of this great 
industry. 
Four conferences will be held in the course 
of the summer, and as promises of support 
have already been made by the leading socie¬ 
ties identified with the special subjects, these 
should be highly successful. These confer¬ 
ences are; Perpetual Carnation Conference, 
at the end of May; Hardy Plant Conference, 
about the middle of June ; Rose Conference, 
at the end of June; Carnation and Sweet Pea 
Conference, towards the end of July; 
