The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1899-05-05
The BEE.
The Home Circle.
THE DAHLIA OF YESTERDAY, TODAY AND
TOMORROW.
TFRoM yICK's ILLUSTRATED MONTHLY
MAGAZINE.

More than hundred years ago Baron
Humboldt discovered the dRhlia, a small,
sipyle flower, In Mexico. Could some
prophetic vision have revealed to him the
dahlia of to-day in its dazzling hues aud
varied forms, he might, perhaps, have
been prouder of that discovery than OF
all his other scientific achievements. 1t
was sent by him to the Botanical G&A-
dens, Madrid, where it received the name
OF dahlis in honor of the botaDist, Pro-
lessor Andrew Dahl. The same year it
was Introduced into England, where it
WAS cultivated under glass. For a few
years it was lost to cultivation, then REIN
troduced into England. Cultivation soon
developed the double form, and every
color except blue. For many years the
ideal dahlia OF the cultivators was per-
fectly double, ball-shaped flower. Those
who remember the compact flowers Of
thirty or forty years ago know how near
ly that ideal was realized, and remember
the deserved popularity of the dahlia Of
Il at day. But people soon tired OF the
regularity OF that type, and for few
years It was neglected. Florists were
giving time, labor and thought to the de-
velopment Of the rose, carnation, chrys-
anthemum, and other popular aDwers.
At last some far-seeing cultivator recog-
nized the possibilities of the dahlia, and
in new, improved and more beautiful
shades of color it resumes its sway, and
to-day greets us in 80 many varied and
attractive forms that every taste may be
suited.
1t has been said that the dahlia can
never take the place of the chrYsanthe-
mum. Very true; neither can the rose
take the place of the lily, nor the carna-
ton supplant the violet; there are seasons
and places for all of these, and 8 wide
gap between the roses Of early summer
and the blooming chrysanthemums of
autumn. 1t is just this season that the
dahlia fills with its radiant hues. It's
ease OF culture assures an overwhelming
popularity, for its requirements are so
simple thata "wayfaring' amateur,
though unskilled, ''cannot err therein"
The tubers should be rather deeply
planted in thoroughly titled, richly fer
tilted soil, one sprout only allowed to
grow in a hill, that sprout pinched back
to make the plant stocky, then if the
surface soil is occasionally stirred there
will be no need OF watering. The plant
will stand any ordinary drouth and
bloom sbundantly.
Among experts there is vast differ.
ence Of opinion in regard to classification.
The amateur will first recognize the
classes of the Double and Single varieties.
Among the double varieties some are so
striking that the most superficial observ-
er readily distinguishes the Cactus,
Large Flowering or Show, Dwarf and
Pompon, which may include the Tom
Thumb class. Those who objected to the
solid, symmetrical dahlias OF yesterday
and found fault because OF their stiffness,
cannot fall to admire the Cactus section,
bearing large, perfectly double flowers,
with loosely arranged petals. In these
the petals are pointed. twisted, spiral,
rolled, quilted, cleft, incurved of recurv-
ed; the shades ranging from purest
white to maroon 80 intensely dark that
a; distance it looks black, with sll the
intermediate shades Of every color ex-
cept blue, and combinations of these
colors; the light shades tipped, streaked,
blotched, spotted, edged or yariegated
with darker colors, while the dark shades
show all the various markings with light
or ones.
In the Large Flowering or Show
dahlia are included the old, ball-shaped
type, with many new introductions and
improvements. Many OF these are tall,
rank growers, carrying huge blossoms