The dahlia has held a prominent place among garden flowers for many
years, and it has received new life in the acquisition of a section
little expected by cultivators, but peculiarly welcome. This class is
the outcome of much patient work on the part of Mr. T.W. Girdlestone,
the well known secretary of the National Dahlia Society, who has for
some time past devoted much time to the improvement of the single
varieties. We had the pleasure a short time since of receiving a
photograph of this dwarf section of dahlias from Messrs. J. Cheal &
Sons, of Crawley, who have purchased the stock, and this we have had
engraved, as it conveys an excellent idea of the height of the plant
and the profusion with which the flowers are produced. The photograph
was also of interest as containing a portrait of Mr. Girdlestone,
which we are sure will be welcome to many of our readers. The plants
of this race are very dwarf, not exceeding twelve inches in height,
bushy, spreading and exceedingly free in flowering, the range of
varieties being at present limited to twelve. The blooms are of medium
size, and the colors are distinct and rich, more particularly the
scarlet and crimson shades, which can be employed to immense advantage
in the flower garden. The heavy formal show varieties are of little
value for planting in trim beds and borders. Many of the decorative or
cactus varieties are too coarse in growth to be of much value in the
flower garden. Therefore, this Liliputian race should find favor with
those who wish for showy and novel effects in the garden during the
summer months.
[Illustration: TOM THUMB SINGLE DAHLIAS.]
There are no peculiarities of culture to contend with, and the
unusually dwarf habit of the plants specially fits them for
comparative small beds and borders. One good way would be to fill a
single bed with one or more decided colors, as is now done with the
tuberous begonia, for the reason that these dahlias have flowers
similar in size to those of the tall-growing single varieties, and
bear them on stiff stalks well above the stems. A mass of the crimson
variety would produce a rich glow of color infinitely finer than a
mixture of undecided hues. We anticipate a high degree of popularity
for these dwarf single or Tom Thumb dahlias, and there is a
possibility of double varieties equally dwarf which would be also
welcome. The great fault of the majority of dahlias already in
cultivation is the tall habit of the plants, but here we have
dwarfness, a profusion of finely formed flowers, and varied and
attractive colors.--_The Gardeners' Magazine_.
* * * * *