AN AUCKLAND AMATEUR’S LIST OF REALLY GOOD DAHLIAS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 18, 2 November 1910, Page 40

AN AUCKLAND AMATEUR’S LIST OF REALLY GOOD DAHLIAS.

It is one thing to judge their merit from a grower’s point of view, where one has to take into account constitution, habit and strength of stalk, floriferousness and many other points, while it is quite another to judge them on the show stand, where one is quite indifferent how the blooms were produced, being concerned merely with their relative merits as staged. However, I have given some thought to your two questions, viz., which I con-

sider the best 24 cactus dahlias for exhibition, and the best 30 cactus dahlias for garden suitable for all purposes? And I offer you the result with some diffidence, for the reasons above mentioned. You will notice that among the exhibition lot I have not mentioned any fancy kinds—tipped, splashed, etc., as I am not sweet on them to show, and I hid much difficulty in reducing the number of good kinds to 24 without including them. 24 CACTUS DAHLIAS FOR EXHIBITION. White and Nearly White.—Manifesto, Mrs. H. Shoesmith. Elsa Ellrich, Anemone. Yellow. —Glory of Wilts, R. Henderson, 11. F. Robertson. Fawn or Old Gold.—Crepuscle, Lea'i Whitehead, J. B. Riding. Pink to Mauve.—Rosa Starr, <C. E. Wilkins, Loveliness. Debutante, c* respy. Mauve, Queen. Red.—Premier, Thos. Parkin. Scarlet and Bright Crimson.—“H. Shoesmith, Rev. A. Hall, Rufus, Mrs. Seale. Maroon. —J. H. Jackson, Rev. D. R. Williamson, and Dark Crimson. 30 CACTUS DAHLIAS FOR GARDEN. White.—F. M. Stredwick, Eva, Fairy, Anemone, Manifesto.

' Yellow and Fawn.—H. F. Robertson, Mrs. Mawley, C. N. Richardson, Decima, J, B. Riding, Faunus. Pink to Mauve.—Mrs. McMillan, Mar}ory Whiteley, Daisy, Princess, Mrs. Cerslake, Island Queen. Red and Scarlet.—Premier, Phincas, Rufus, H. Shoesmith. Crimson and Maroon. —Rev. A. Hall, Mrs. F. Grinsted, J. W- Wilkinson, J. H. 'Jackson, Rev. D. R. Williamson. Fancy.—Columbia, Fireworks, Meteor, Mrs. H. J. Jones. In naming the above 30, I have kept {pretty well to varieties I have grown myBelf, and have no doubt there are many Hmong the more recent introductions which are of great value as garden plants.