Dahlia Dope Sheet 
Weather-wise the nineteen fifty-three dahlia season 
in the midwest was not much better than that of the 
previous year. The latter part of August was one long 
heat wave that broke all previous records. Moreover 
the excessive heat was accompanied by drouth. 
These adverse conditions continued into early Sep- 
tember before breaking, only to reoccur each Friday 
throughout the month. It seemed as if some evil in- 
fluence was afoot to deal out hot windy weather the 
day before each show. It took a lot of artificial water- 
ing and umbrellas to counteract these conditions, but 
the bitter fight against the elements was waged not 
without considerable success at the shows. Here’s the 
box score on the varieties that won for us. 
BADGER STATE SHOW AT MADISON, WISC. 
We won the “Big Six” with Blue Okanagon, Carl 
Dahl, Croydon Sensation, Diva, Kidd’s Climax and The 
Cardinal. 
We won the “Little Six’ with Croydon Lilac Gem, 
Florence Chadwick, Juanita, Madam Clementine Payen, 
Nick’s Orchid and Stoplight. 
We exhibited the largest bloom in the show—Pride 
of Parkersburg. 
We exhibited the most perfect cactus in the show— 
Florence Chadwick. 
MIDWEST SHOW AT CLEVELAND 
We won the “Big Five’ with Arab Queen, Bessie 
Hardress, Drum Major, Montgomery and Night Editor. 
We exhibited the best B dahlia in the show—Fire- 
gleam. 
CENTRAL STATES DAHLIA SOCIETY SHOW 
AT CHICAGO 
We won the “Big Six” (fifth consecutive year) with 
B. C., Charles K. Shaw, Croydon Brightness, Nearest 
Blue, Reg Deeprose and White Nobby’s Light. 
We won the “Little Six” with Almelo’s Glory, Ethel 
May, Heart of Gold, Naney Ann Mitchell, Nick’s Orchid 
and Vermont Gem. 
We exhibited the Most Perfect A dahlia in the Open 
Division —— Bond’s Memory. 
We exhibited the Most Perfect B dahlia in the Open 
Division — Firegleam. 
We exhibited the Most Perfect B dahlia in the show 
— Nick’s Orchid. 
SOUTHTOWN DAHLIA SHOW AT CHICAGO 
We won the “Big Six’ with Christine, Croydon Dig- 
nity, Helen Stafford, Lady Liddell, Prairie Fire and 
Quinn’s Tidal Wave. 
We won the “Little Six” with Almelo’s Glory, Autumn 
Light, Heart of Gold, Nick’s Orchid, Rhonda Smith and 
Vermont Gem. 
We exhibited the best A dahlia in the show — Grand- 
eZZa. 
We exhibited the best B dahlia in the show—Juanita. 
Cf course a lot of other fine varieties brought us 
humerous ribbons in the regular specimen classes of 
these shows, but space permits the enumeration of only 
the winning varieties in the special classes. Varieties 
that come through in such competition in a year like 
the past can surely be regarded as top-notchers. I am 
pleased to be able to catalog and share most of them 
with my customers in the list which follows: 
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