DAHLIAS IN AMERICA.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 5, 31 January 1912, Page 41

DAHLIAS IN AMERICA.

Tiie dahlia appears to be by far the. most popular autumn flower in the United States, if one can judge from the prominence, given to it in the horticultural Press of that country. One large trade paper devoted practically the whole of two isaue-s to the flower and its growers. The writers were drawn from all parts of the States, thus showing the interest to be widespread. The reports of their exhibitions were pretty breezy, the cactus type being left almost entirely in the hands of amateur growers, while the trade seemed to devote their attention chiefly to the large decorative sorts, that are more or less neglected in this country. The paeonyflowered section, too, seem highly in favour, while the pompons and singles appear to be quite neglected; in fact, the whole sorts are more highly esteemed. The whole of the trend of the various correspondents clearly implies that the American nation require something large, for decorative purposes, and while the dahlia cannot be styled a popular flower in this country for this purpose, it is evident our cousins regard it otherwise. One grower alone mentions growing two hundred and fifty thousand plants, surely a fine dahlia farm, while it is recorded that one New York wholesaler handled sixty thousand flowers, two others fifty thousand each, and several ten thousand each. If these are the figures at one market, what must be the sales for the whole of the large markets’ The prices, too, are rather astonishing to us, for they range from 75 cents, to three dollars per 100. There is surely money in the dahlia cut flower trade in the States.

One authority denounces the modern cactus varieties tin no unmeasured terms. He is of opinion that the only way to judge the merits of any dahlia is to do so on the plant, and certainly not on the show boards, and that the stem and floriferousness of the plant should be taken into consideration as well as the actual flower. A statement that I think will he heartily endorsed by many. Our American cousins do not fear to criticise any variety that does not come •up to their standard. For instance, a grower from T.os Angelos cannot understand wiiy the cactus variety Dreadnought ever saw the daylight; he describes it as a dull chestnut, quickly bleaching to a red, “yet more dull, and about as pleasing as the colour of my old cow nt shedding time.” Evidently Dreadnought does not .behave so well I here as in the land of its birth. Again, he describes J, B. Riding as another candidate for the “junk pile” and obMvion. Still, these breezy descriptions are interesting reading. A curious incident is recorded 4>y a grower tin Indiana, who mentions that they left alt their plants white still in flower to make sure the stock is true to name. <1 peculiar planting freak is mentioned by a writer from Massachusetts, who started planting the first week in Majr, with, presumably, ground roots, putting out fifteen hundred weekly, the final plant ting of four thousand cactus varieties “king place the first week in August. IMr Maurice Field, an authority oaths

subject, gives the following as some of the best decorative dahlias:—-Perle de Lyon, Delice, Yellow Colosee, Jack Rose. Jeannie Gliarmet, Kaiserin Augusta Victoria, and Madame Van den Dael, while the best paeony-flowered are Codsail Gem, Mrs A. McKellar, Mrs W. E. Whineray, Mrs T. G. Baker, Mrs J. B. Riding, The Geisha, Paul Kruger, and Liberty. Our American cousins are very keen oa raising seedlings, one writer remarking that it is quite time they could do without the annual importations from Eurone. —“Gardener’s Magazine.”