Los Angeles herald., 1910-09-11

One of our most satisfactory flowers
is the hardy dahlia. The numerous
and graceful forms and the great
variety of exquisite colors make it one
of our most important summer flow
ers It's splendid display of bloom lists
for several weeks, and the flowers
when cut will keep in the house for
a greater length of time than most of
our blossoms.
The dahlia, being very vigorous
grower requires a very rich soil with
an almost unlimited capacity for water
They should be planted so that the
crown of the root is at least three
inches below the surface and at least
three feet apart, and as soon as planted
be provided with a strong stake not
less than six feet long, driven firmly
in the ground close to the plant. AS
the shoots grow they should be tied to
the stake. This will prevent them from
breaking and will give the plant neat
appearance. Under no circumstances
allow them to flag for want of water
during dry weather. as the penalty will
be small and deformed flowers, a
parody on their beauty and affording
no satisfaction to the cultivator.
The qualities which make the dahlia
worth while are perfection in size and
form, an early and free-blooming
habit. long, straight stem, and a
blossom showing it's face upward.
But ten years ago the only dahllas
known were the single show and the
pompon varieties, both being among
the stiffest flowers in the kingdom of
horticulture. Now there are five dis
tinct classes-the single, show, POM
pom, cactus and decorative. Each
class has many varieties, there being
no less than fifteen hundred distinct
sorts in the cactus class alone.
The popularity of the dahlia is wide
spread among all classes of people. No
garden is complete without a good
variety, and there are many good rea-
sons for this almost unequaled popu-
larity Foremost, is the variety or
color, for no other flower can boast
the multiplicity of shadings found in
the dahlia. Next comes its adapta-
bility to every soil and climate, as well
as the simple and easy culture re-
uuired. Just now the cactus dahlia,
especially, is in high favor. 1t is a
striking flower in appearance, re-
sembling the chrysanthemum in size
and shape, and is found in more shades
and colors than any other flower In
the universe.
The single dahlia, which was really
the first dahlia known, has been re-
vived of late, and appears in several
new forms, the foremost of VIII ch is
the peony-fowered dahlia, the blossom
of which resembles a single or semi
doubled peony possessing all the beau
ties and grace of the latter flower, in
addition to blooming from July to NO
vember. This is sure to be one of the
most popular dahlias of the future.
Another form, derived from the
single dahlia, is the collarette type,
which is in reality a single dahlia with
a small collar of petals of contrast
ing color appearing regularly around
the disc, creating a unique and pleas
ant effect. The single dahlia Itself
has been greatly improved until, in
stead of the small flower commonly
known, it is of immense size, some
times measuring six to eight inches
across-colossal, but still beautiful.
They are easily propagated by divi-
sion, though not as freely as some
other Dubious plants, but seed freely,
and this forms a ready means OF
increase.