Dahlia Judging

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30092, 28 March 1963, Page 3

Dahlia Judging

Sir, —I see in the public notices that the Christchurch Dahlia Circle has given support to the judges at the South Island Dahlia Show. If that is so, then they do not know what they were discussing at their meeting or the rules of the New Zealand Dahlia Classification do not mee - a tiling. Will the judge of the amateur class at this show explain his reason for disqualifying a dahlia named “Bell of the Ball” in the giant cactus class? I understand he classed it as a fimbriated variety. The only classification ovenseas is that of large cactus. This dahlia was shown as a large cactus and is not classified in New Zealand. On page 2 in the New Zealand classification list under the heading of “Important Notice ” it says: “If a variety is not listed in the classified list it may be shown according to the size of the bloom on the day of the show.”— Yours, etc., A. R. FREEMAN. March 26. 1963.

[The judge (Mr W. A. Pollard) said: “ “Bell of the- Ball was shown in a three-vase giant semi-cactus class, and as ft is a large fimbriated cactus I had no alternative but to disqualify it Mr Freeman is quite correct when he states that the only classificaion overseas is that of large cactus, but he forgets to add that overseas fimbriated dahlias are not considered for classification as such, and are listed as merely large cactus, medium cactus, etc.; also that New Zealand is the only country in the world to date that lists fimbriated dahlias in a class of their own, and, unfortunately, 'Bell of the Ball,” with others, was omitted from the first classified list compiled by the Dahlia Society of New Zealand at the end of last year. This will be rectified at an early date. I would also remind Mr Freeman that at the South Island show of the Dahlia Society of New Zealand, held at Addington in Febrary, 1961, 'Beil of the Ball* was awarded first prize in the class- for fimbriated dahlias by a national judge of which panel I have been an A grade judge for the last 12 yrara.”]