The morning journal-courier., 1908-05-09
ABOUT THE DAHLIA
Facts Regarding This Popular and Fashionable Flower
 Its Culture.

now popular and fashionable flower was almost unknown before 17S9, when 1t was introduced into Great Britain from Spain, but was lost to cultivation. Another stock was pro- cured from France about 1915, and from this the numerous forms have been obtained It Is probable that the types and varieties of the garden Dahlia now in cultivation have orig mated from b. cuccinea and D. varia- bils When first introduced 1t flour ished under the name, Georgna Ger vantesii from King George and Ger vantes, but the name of Dahlia from Dahl, a Swedish botanist, was final ly adopted and strange to relate, has not been corrupted into lot of ab- surd common names like so many simple botanical terms.
 At the first introduction the varie- ties consisted only of the narrow petaled single sorts, and some with few irregular iorets in the center. By continued cultivation the flowers were gradually improved in fo:n and coloring to perfectly pulled double kinds that are now chased as Show Dahlas, and the smaller lowered dwarf section called Bouquet or Pompon. About twenty-five years ago special care began to be used to inn prove the single towering class, and about the same time the finest type of the Cactus varieties Dahlia Juarezli was introduced from Mexico, from this variety all the gorgeous types and diversified forms of the Cactus section have sprung. To enumerate a full list of all the good varieties now in cultivation would be laborious task but we will try to give partial list of some of the best and thorough ly tested varieties in the most prom inent classes The perfectly regular pulled sorts called Show Oahlias, though not as popular as some of the newer types arc still worthy of q | place in every collection, few really | fine ones are A. D. Livoni, clear pink, | Storm King, white, Cambridge, white, tipped purple Geo. Smith, large crim- ] son, La Phare, bright crimson, Pink Dandy, clear rose, Mrs. Dodds, yellow. Lefty Coles, yellow tipped white and Tommy Green, maroon tipped white. | The Decorative Dahlias with longer flowers and partly pulled flat petals, ] include I1nnr crimson 9plrlat Admiral Dewey, brilliant purple, Evadue, soft, yellow, Grand Duke Alo xls, white, tnged pink, an enor- nous flower, Maid of Kent, cherry and white, Mrs Keith, salmon pink Oban, rosy lavender, Perle don, white and Wm. Aenew, scarlet,
 The Giant Dahlias are several steps in advance of any previous 9oncep- tion of Dahlla, they require extra care and exceedingly rich soil. Some of the best are Gettysburg, ,earlet Glgantea, cream, Mime. Van den Dael and yellow, Duke canary yellow. The Single Dahlias have been immensely l improved in the last few years. the names In the catalogues are almost too ex,cnded. ut If tho grower wishes IS good as the best take any of the Century varieties; they are all superb 1 Ter cut honer purposes, where lora stems gre desil ed, no flower can com pare w;th the Single Dahlia for poT- geous effect A spurt from the single type Is the Collarette class, fan. cy single Dahlia with small petals lko rays circling the center and oi a distinct color from the outer petals Those require specially good treat ment.
 Now we come to what are justly considered as the most effective, most irregular though beautiful in the IT, regularity, and best keeping quality of any class-the cactus Dahlils. The petals arc generally narrow often twisted, rosy variable in form, but al ways an object of beauty. The varie- ties have been increased very rapid ly, but few well known sorts will only be mentioned, the one variety that stands out pre-emihent is tho Countess of Lunsdalc, beautiful sal mon pink shaded with terra -cotta some newer sorts may be more laudec in the catalogues, but 1t Is hard tt surpass. We also have Brittania, flesf color Capstan, orange scarlet, Porcu pine, deep crimson, Standard. brigh scarlet, Brunhilde, deep plum color Coronation. brilliant red, Floradora velvet crimson, Gen Butler, maroon and white, Jealousy, yellow, Purity white, and Kriemhlde, delicate pinl and rose.
 A word about growing Dahlias. IT have fine flowers you must have ricf ground, an abundance of sunlight and in dry weather copious watering at the root All Dahlias produce bet ter flowers if trained to one stem carefully removing all the little shoot that spring from the root after tn main stem is well advanced. The. require a strong support, stout ceda pole, well nrmed in the ground is tn
 best knd as during September, th month of Dahlia perfection the heav, rain and wind storms arc apt to breal and disngure the plants unless strong ly supported, the small weak branche well thinned out and securely tied t whatever support is used V.
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