The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1875-07-22

lost part of its eclat, but is now not
only regaining its lost ground, but
bids fair to exceed even its former
position in public estimation. We
are not surprised at this, for when we
look upon a well-formed Dahlia, we
are compelled to acknowledge that it
is a wonder of beauty and perfection.
The Dahlia, when first discovered in
Mexico, about 1884, and named after
DR.. Dahl, pupil Of Linnaus, was a
single flower, and its improvement
was accomplished by the patience and
skill of European florists. 1t was
first cultivated for its tubers, which
were thought to be eatable. It, was
not until 1914 that it began to excite
the attention of florists, and the i'm
provement of the Dahlia has been
constant to the present time: for
though florists thought this flower had
attained the highest point of beauty
many years since, every year seedlings
are produced and named which are
considered as surprising their prede-
cessors in some point of excellence.
We exhibited seedlings of our own
in 1874, which such excellent judges
as Isaac Buchanan and G. L.
Allen pronounced superior to any
they had before seen. The flower
shown is about one-half the size of a
large Dahlia, though they differ very
much in this respect, some varieties
always producing large and others
small flowers, the small or medium
being usually the most perfect, and
the largest often somewhat coarse.
Purchasers of Dahlias usually obtain
the tubers for planting, because they
are more safely transported than
plants. Put the tubers in the
ground when the season becomes
warm, covering the neck some three
inches. If many shoots start, thin
them out. There is no necessity fol
planting the Dahlia early, as il
is an autumn flower, and seldom
gives good blossoms until the nights
are somewhat cool. After Towering
and before hard frosts, take up the
bulbs, dry them a little, remove the
tops, and store in the cellar until
spring, when they can be divided and
re-planted. The size of the tuber has
no influence on the strength Of the
plant or the beauty Of the flower; all
the tuber Is needed for is to sus.
tain the young shoot until it can take
root and obtain its own support. Flor
lists usually place the tubers in a hot.
bed early in the spring, and as fast as
the young shoots get few inches Of
growth, take them off and pot them
when, everything being favorable,
each one will root and make a good
plant. They are often sold in this
way, especially new and scarce va.
rieties. The tall growing plants re-
quire stalking, if growing in exposed
situations, or they are often broken
by the wind. The Dah1ia is divided
into three pretty distinct classes, the
first being the largest and most i'm
portant, as follows: Sho,o Dahlia,
growing from three to four feet in
height, and embracing all our finest
sorts, fit for exhibiting at horticultur.
al shows, from which the name is de-
rived; the flowers ranging in size
from two and half to four inches in
diameter. The Duarf or Bedding
Dahia grows about eighteen inchesin
height, and makes a thick, compact
bush, and covers good deal of sur
face. Flowers Of the size of Show
Dahlias. They are therefore very
desirable for bedding and massing.
The Pom.pon or Bouquet Do1'Aa makes
a pretty, compact plant, about three
feet in height. The leaves are small,
and the flowers from one to two inch
es in diameter. Many expect to find
small flowers on their Dwarf Dahlias,
and feel disappointed because they
are Of the ordinary size, not knowing
that it is the plant, and not the flower
that is dwarfed, and that only the
Pompon gives the small flowers. The
striped and notified and spotted flow.
ers belonging to the show section are
called Fancy, and though not as rich
and usually as highly priced as the
sells, or those of one color, are very