• 1

Celebrating the

'· Colden Anniversary

of the

- ·AMERICAN DAHLIA SOCl·ETY

1915-1965

and featuring the

World's D-ahlia Congress

• Welcome ....

N behalf of every member of the American Dahlia Society, I welcome you-to Ne''" York- to America - to the Golden Anniversary of this Society and to this First O W oriel's Dahlia Congress, held in commemoration of that Anniversary. The growing of this flower - the dahlia, which \Yas discovered some 400 years ago. in ~entral America, is a real key to friendship, the world over. It is as good friends of yours, then, that our Society greets the members of dahlia societies from other lands and from every part of these United States. \Ve have held many lengthy meetings, over the past two years, planning for the reception and entertainment of you, our guests. Looking back, we see many other things which we might have done, to make you happier and more comfortable. But you are here and it is our hope that any omissions on our part will be forgiven. Perhaps it is fortunate that there is another attraction to visitors, not far from here. It's the greatest \i\Torld's Fair ever presented in America. perhaps in the world. vVhateyer the reason for your presence here, we, the members of the American Dahlia Society are happy indeed to have this "Golden" opportunity to look each of you in the eye - shake your hand - and talk together about our mutually favorite subject - DAHLIAS. Truly, this is the "Golden Year of the Dahlia."

Thank you,

President, American Dahlia Society •

The Golden Year Dahlia Record

A Souvenir Edition New York, N. Y., September 19, 1964 A Historical Document

TONICHT'S THE NICHT!! We Break Bread - We Cement Friendships

::VIany dahlia growers from many lands and many states are gathered here tonight to assist the American Dahlia Society to celebrate its 50th Anniversary. The World's Dahlia Congress, held in conjuncti on, has discussed many problems of International importance and solved some of them. These discuss ions were, and will continue to be, in the areas of Standardization of omenclature, Sizes, Forms and Colors. The Show being staged here in the New Yorker H otel for the first time, is, without doubt, one of, if not the largest ever staged by the American Dahlia Society. In total number of entries, in the number of entries in the almost 500 classes, it undoubtedly exceeds any flower show ever held in this city. It is also "tops" in the number and character of entries shipped by air from foreign countries and, indeed from all over the United States. Many of the nearly 75 societies associated with the .--\. D. S. have sent blooms and awards. Certainly, in vivid and varying colors, it is DeweyMohr­ superlative. The number and character of the special Awards also exceeds that of any dahlia show by the Speaking. American Dahlia Society. early seventy societie have contributed their Medals or sent Trophies. Several fin e prizes have come from societies overseas. Individual donors of unusual and costly lt is possible that, as Chairman for the Entertainment and Ba nquet Trophies, Bowls, Vases, Etc., are in greater number than ever before, m an A. D. S. Exhibition. committee, m y carefully prepared YES! Tonight is the BIG IGHT! It is the culmination of many months of planning and work speech may be eliminated. by members of this society. But of perhaps of greatest importance, is that this evening is the occas­ In fact, if something goes wrong ion for the frution of many friendships formed in perso n and by mail over the last fifty years, with here, or our es teemed president does Dahlias as the generative nucleus. not like the fo od, it may be difficult \!\Te break bread here tonight together with a smile and a prayer that this occasion may be the for you to locate m e. epitome of greater understanding and co-operation between dahlia people all over the world. It is the So, 1 take the opportunity afforded hope of everyone gathered here that this will be a miles tone in the relationships and close friend­ by Editor Dudley, to say that I hon­ ships of dahlia people everywhere. estly and sincerely hope you are en­ Enjoy yourselves - every friend of the Dahlia - this is indeed THE BIG NIGHT. It is truly THE joying yo ur visit in Jew York. Also that yo u like the show, the bus and GOLDEN IGHT of the " GOLDEN YEAR of the DAHLIA." boat rides - the co ntacts with our members - at least some of them. It is poss ible that there are o ther ciety has been privileged to call trips or visits to dahlia gardens in upon, starting with our first Presi­ GREETINGS this area which you would make. dent Richard Vincent, Jr., and con­ Becau se of time involved a nd long tinuing through to the present with From The Secretary, Bulletin Editor distances between gardens in three Harry A. Dreyer. states, it was not practical to sc hed­ The prime characteristic moving ule more. But, if I can be of service And General Chairman, Edward B. Lloyd all our leaders has been "work" in arranging car-pool dahlia garden which with their wide capabili ties \ !\Te are this year presenting the tours, procuring World's Fair tickets and broad experience has created Golden Anniversary Exhibition of at discount rates, or trips to places what measure of success we can ou r Society. When one looks back of interest in or near New York - claim. These leaders have been and over these past fifty yea rs and eval­ please call upon me. uates what some of us believe are are our chief resource, and not only I have been fortunate to be elect­ accomplishments, or feeble attempts today but in long range planning ed a Vice-President of the American towards that encl , we hope it will be have ma naged our Society to its pres­ Dahlia Society for, I was going to say found that although results have not ent position of leadership in dahlia 50 yea rs, but it has not quite reached been possibly spectacular, they have planning. The driving spirit which that period ye t. I'll just conclude by originated from the heart! our first President Richard Vincent, saying, as a long time officer of the H ere and now it is fitting that Jr., and his fellow Charter Members A. D. S., may yo ur visit here, in this we pay tribute to those loyal and implanted, is still with us and it is Golden Year of the Dahlia, be a most devoted members without number, that premise upon which we base happy a nd memorable one. whose individual and collective per­ our optimism for the years ahead.­ formances have contributed to what­ Ed. B. Lloyd, Secretary. -DEWEY l\JoHR ever successes the American Dahlia Society has attained. I refer particu­ larly and call to your attention one The Menu and Program for Body and Mental Fare group for special commendation. This is tha t group of outstanding Extraordinary Will Be Found on the Back Cover. leaders and pioneers which our So-

September 18-20, 1964 Page 3. GREETINGS FROM N. D. S. To President Harry Dreyer, and Members of the American Dahlia Society: "This is certainly a historic occasion for all of our dahlia friends in America. I am very sorry to say that I shall not be with you for this celebra­ tion, however, you will be having Mr. Jonnie Brown, the Chairman of the National Dahlia Society, Mr. "Steve" Newsom, our Secretary, and Mr. Gor­ don Medlen, the Chairman of Classification, besides several other members of the Council, and all h igh in the British Dahlia World. Visitor Gets Exicited And "I wish to give you greetings and offer my heartiest congratulations to you Mr. President, and to the American Dahlia Society, on attaining its Creates Big Disturbance 50th year of continued operation. Long may it continue to thrive." Signed, STUART OGG, Over Color Discussion President of the National Dahlia Society of England A flustered, dishevelled man, be­ not as loudly as at first. It sounded lieved to be a delegate to this World's as if he said: "It's not a color at all. Dahlia Congress (and he certainly They cannot adopt 'Autumn' as an was 'at large' for a time) rushed out International color standard. In my of the meeting of the several Classi­ country, the trees and bushes, after Regrets From France fication Committees from England, frost, have every color of a rainbow. Edward B. Lloyd, General Chair­ Holland, and America this after­ Perhaps they have different hues man, received the following from noon, and ran, waving his arms and there than in America. How can we Robert Turc, Angers, France. "We muttering, down the corridors of the say that a Salmon Pink Dahlia is should have been very glad to come hotel. 'Autumn' when it's obvious to every­ to your Golden Year Anniversary Your reporter tried to catch up one that it's 'Buff Pink'?" Exhibition, but, unfortunately, at with him to get his name. But he We did not hear more, and when this time of year, we are in the went down the aisle so fast that nei­ the gentleman was last in our vision, busiest part of the bulb season with ther name nor his nationality was he was headed towards the room in Tulips and Hyacinths, so we will ascertained, unfortunately. the corner of the lobby floor, marked be unable to come. A month ago "PUB." we were there and visi ted New He talked like an American, but York, Florida and California. Sorry quite obviously was not. His hair As a news gatherer, your reporter not to meet with you on this occa­ was not over long, and he wore no regrets that the proceedings behind sion, but hope that you can come bowler. Yet he did not appear to the closed Classification Meeting here soon to see our dahlias. have the calm, reserved demeanor of door had not been witnessed by him. We should have enjoyed to be in the usual Britisher either. We could only guess from the excited New York for the SOth Anniversary, Your reporter got close enough to gentleman's remarks, what caused Mr. Stuart Ogg, and thank you very much for your him, to hear him say in a loud mut­ him to run amok, as they say in the kind invitation. President, National Dahlia ter, "They cannot do that to us. tropics. But we considered it fortu­ Very sincerely yours, Society, England Autumn, what's that? I t's no color. nate for us that we were on the job Robert Turc Just a jumble of colors." He was and able to write this spot news for --0-- really excited. We could not get this Golden Year Dahlia Record. close enough to smell his breath, but The presses were held up so that this he surely did appear unsober. item, which we trust is of great inter­ Brother Simplicius, He continued to mutter, although est, could be recorded for posterity. Dahlia Specialist Greetings To A . D. S. Dear Editor Dudley, Brother Simplicus is the gardener Golden Year Dahlia Record: for the Order of the Blessed Sacra­ ment Fathers at Leicester. He comes From the Midlands, the very heart originally from Venlo in Holland of England, I send you and all the where his family have market-gar­ members, my heartfelt congratula­ dened for generations. Giant vege­ tions on the occasion of the 50th tables and dahlias are his specialty­ Anniversary of the American Dahlia seven of his new dahlia varieties Society. May it prosper and spread were selected for Wisley last year. joy in companionships as well as in "We filled a wheelbarrow with a success in Dahlia growing. cabbage that fed the whole Commu­ I take great interest in your work. nity of 25, and still there was a quar­ For years now I have been following ter left over. But dahlias are my your progress and rejoicing in your great specialty because they make fine results. Sometimes even envying good decoration for the church, and those beautiful flowers which you because they produce results in a produced. It is especially your fine year. Twenty-four of mine are regis­ spirit of brotherhood which pleases ABE N. BALLEGO distinguished by tered at the National Dahlia Society. me, for I have made some wonderful H. M. Queen Juliana of the Netherlands Last year I grew 1,200 seedlings and friends from among the members of labelled 60 for trial. You see, what the American Dahlia Society. On the Queen's Birthday, April 29th, 1964, ABE N. BALLEGO, senior I'm looking for is good color, long It is impossible for me to be at partner of the Ballego-Leiden-Holland Dahlia Nurseries, has been distinguish ed by H. M. Queen Juliana, for his me ritorious activities in the dahlia fi eld . stems, nice formation and full cen­ your celebrations but you have my The Q ueen's representative, Burgomaster Du Boeuff, on t he left, said t hat ters. When you raise a new one, you sincerest wishes and my humble Mr. Ballego who is now 7 1, has been active in t he melioration of dahlias, over know it's the only one of its kind in prayers. God bless you all. Sincerely 50 years, and he is a well-known person all over the worl d , wh erever dahlias are the world. I get pleasure in observ­ yours, Rev. Brother Simplicius, S.S.S., grown, and so are his dahlias. The Order of Knighthood of the Roy al House of O range Nassau is a recog­ ing things, how they germinate, how Eymard House, Gooding Avenue, nit ion for the creditab ~ e work of the Ballegos, and the great importance of their they come up-that's beautiful." Leicester, England. da hlias for the Netherlands horticulture.

Page 4 The A. D. S. Golden Year Dahlia Record Introducing Some Distinguished Guests From Overseas MR. STUART OGG, V. M. H., President of the 1ational Dahlia Society and head of one of the largest nurseries in England. Tall, silver haired and elegant, Mr. Ogg is loved by all who know him. Three years ago he was awarded the Victoria Medal of Ecnout, the highest award of the Royal Horticulture Society. A member of the Royal Horticul­ tural Society Council until this year, and in 1960 he received the National Dahlia Society's highest honor-a Gold Medal. The follow­ ing year he received the supreme British award in horticulture, an enrollment as one of the sixty-three holders of the Victoria M edal of Honour. Private address: E. Stuart Ogg, Esq., "Farnleigh," London Road, Ditton, Nr. Maidstone, Kent. Mr. Ogg sent his regrets.

MR. E. F. (STEVE) NEWSOl\11, Secretary of the National Dahlia Society. Known as a thorough and competent administrator. He lives at Bar­ net in Herfordshire, on the outskirts of London. His dahlia first-love is the pompon. He has been most successful in exhibiting them. l\1R. A. T. (BART) BARNES, one of the foremost dahlia journalists in Britain. A regular contributor to the leading horticultural magazines, particularly "Amateur Gardening." He is well known for fine "rais­ ings" (seedlings), of which "LAVENGROW" is perhaps the most fa­ mous. His home is in Bedford, about 50 miles from London. l\1R. JONNIE BROWN, Chairman of the . D.S. has been growing dahlias since a lad. Now-a-clays he only grows seedlings, h aving had to sell his business recently "to satisfy the Building Gods." His introductions have won countless awards at Wisley Trials. His seedlings have a name prefix of "Perran." His home is in Maidenhead. MR. PHILIP DAMP, F. N . D.S., President ;\lidlancls Dahlia Society ... · Phil MR. JAN BALLEGO is head of one of the largest dahlia nurseries in Hol­ really• needs no introduction to A. D. S. members. As a long time land, and is known as "BLOEMHOVE" located at Leiden. Their friend of Editor Edward Lloyd, Mr. Damp has become familiar to catalogues in Engli sh have wide circulation in England, Australia and Bulletin readers as a regular contributor. He is also a Vice-President America. (See article and picture on another page.) of A. D. S. and Associate Editor of the Bulletin. His picture and also MR. W. H. (PI) ENSUM, one of the most successful exhibitors. His "rais­ those of some members of his family has been seen in the Bulletin. He ings" include "TU TU," " HAMOR! GIRL," "HAMOR! BOY," is a member of the Publication Committee of the N. D.S. Editor Lloyd "HAMOR! DREAM." All of these have received high honors in Lon­ has disclosed that Philip is 43 years of age, is happily married to the don shows in the past three seasons. His home also called Hamori, is charming Joan and they have three sons. His business is as an account­ in Worcester Park on the Surry side of London. ant with Lockheed Hydraulics. He organized the Jvfid lands Dahlia MR. AND MRS. D. EVEELEYN MAARSE, of Baarn, Holland. One of Society and is its President. It is affiliated with the A. D. S. W e will all the largest Dahlia Nursery exporters on the continent. Their planting be glad to meet this energetic and likable dahlia man from Britain. of many acres includes thousands of seedlings each year. The bes t of MR. GEORGE BROOKES, President of the Birmingham Dahlia Society, these often go to W isley Trials and to the American Dahlia Society Editor of its publication, and author of "Growing Dahlias." He is a Trial Gardens. Their catalogue has wide circulation in Europe, Amer­ member of some eight societies including New Zealand, Alabama, ica and Australia. (See pictures on another page.) Connecticut, and others. He is accompanied to the Anniversary by MR. T. R. H. (TERRY) LEBAR. Has been for many years Assistant Edi­ ;\frs. Brookes, their daughter, son and son's friend. tor of the National Dahlia Society Yearbook. On the death of George F. Drayson in 1962, its long time Editor, Terry became its Editor. He is also author of a fine book "Dahlias for Everyone." A skilled and successful showman. He resides at Erith in the County of Essex. MR. FRANK W. HARRISON, Secretary of the North of England Dahlia Society and has dahlia friends all over the world. He started the Northern Dahlia Show last year in his native Manchester. This ex­ York with Mrs. Brookes, their hibition brought the "World's Best Dahlias" for the first time to the Mr. George Brookes, daughter, and son with his fiance. " Northern Hemisphere" and undoubtedly increased the growing of Besides being president of hi s so­ dahlias in that section. President Birmingham ciety, Mr. Brookes is editor of its MR. ARTHUR LASHLIE, one of the leading dahlia writers in England. pu blica ti on, "The Dahlia l'\ ews," and author of a booklet, also published His worthwhile contributions to the monthly international review, Dahlia Society Here by the society, called "Dahlia Grow­ "Dahlia and Chrysanthemum" which is published in London. H e is '·On behalf of our Birmingham ing." He sent us copies of both and also Editor and general factotum of the massive multi-flower society, Dahlia Society, we send to al! our we find them most interesting to a "Rosescarpe." Home, Newcastle on Tyme, up in northeast England. dahlia friends in the U. S. A. our dahlia grower. He also gave us per­ MR. HERBERT L. RAINBOW, from Kenilworth. Secretary of the Mid­ sincere greeting. \Ve hope that the mission to re-print any of their con­ lands Dahlia Society and is well known as a National Judge and American Dahlia Society Anniver­ tents. One article appears herewith in part on the subject of "Virus lecturer. sary and Show is a bold success, with world-\vide influence on dahl­ Diseases." MR. RONALD M. HATFIELD. He is Assistant Editor of "Garden News," ia progress," wrote Mr. George Mr. Brookes concluded his letter a national horticultural weekly. He is a regular exhibitor as well as Brakes, President of the Birming­ with this statement. "More important a National Judge. Also a correspondent for many other publications. ham Dahlia Society of England, in than all , I am thrilled beyond all His home is in Cambridge. March. dreams at the anticipated pleasure "We hope to see also some dahlia of meeting al! my many frien ds in MR. THOMAS HORTON, Secretary of the North of England Dahlia As­ varieties at the show, where we have America, and I have many. Mav I sociation (N. E. D. A.). He is also a well known National Judge. Lives been asked to judge, which are also wish you well, and to see and sp~ak in Stourbridge. He will be accompanied to America by his daughter raised by myself here in England," with you at this A. D. S. celebration, Susan. said he. Mr. Brookes is here in ~ ew will be my pleasure."

September 18-20, 1964 Page 5 tising agency in New York, of which Society, as well as the weekly meet­ I was an officer, was asked by Mr. ings of the Committee of Judges at Pollak to prepare a campaign for the various Trial Gardens, during the new products. We did this, but August and September. changes in the company's structure In addition, of course, there are the many expositions in Holland made the marketing of the utensils and abroad, where I demonstrate the impractical. During this business new Ballego-introductions. association, we came to respect and It is not otherwise-but I gladly admire Leo Pollak for more than his make the promise that whilst trav­ devotion to the hobby of growing eling about at expositions and trial prize winning dahlias. grounds, I shall keep my eyes on Now a Sile! note. Leo Pollak did the new varieties of the international not grow dahlias in 1964, the first in world - assortment. So that my American friends will hear of those some 45 years. Further, he and his shortly. good wife, Virginia expect to soon The novelty blooms that I bring move to Washington. We, in the to your Golden Anniversary Show, American Dahlia Society, will miss give, of course, only a modest im­ his sage advice and counsel on soci­ pression of what is blooming at ety affairs. He has long served the the nurseries and trial garden in society with honor and distinction. my home-town of Leiden, Holland, We hope he will reutrn on occasion, where over 350 newcomers from all to render an invocation or to toast­ over the world, are tested this year. master again.-L. B. D. The blooms you will see in the A. D. S. show in New York in September, travel, tightly packed, over 4,000 miles from nursery to show, and are some 28 hours out of water. But you will be most pleasantly surprised at how fresh Jan M. Ballego they will be, soon after they are un­ Third Generation of the packed.

Balleqo-Dahlia-Tradition --0-- Meet The Toastmaster! Meet Them in New Yerk Hope you all meet some of the Our toastmaster tonight is a modest and handsome gentleman. Portland folks. Dick and Hazel Bey­ He was president of this society for a longer period than any other, erle of Sellwood Florists are here. except Richard Vincent, Jr., its first leader. This was from 1948 to Sellwood Glory, born of Ballego's Glory are in the same class and still, 1953. He also was president of the Dahlia Society of New Jersey, our after many years, meet each other on "side-kick society." the show table. Maybe the Ballego"s and the Beyerles will meet again. Leo Pollak probably will not tell the dahlia people gathered -"Bing" Chambers here tonight all of his business connections and history, nor, we are --a-­ afraid, ALL of his experiences in connection with growing dahlias. President Moes of the (We hope not, because he has grown them for 45 years and that would take too long-no one else could speak-Editor.) So we must West German Society tell some things he will omit. Sends Regrets Leo Pollak is a quiet, introspective man. He likes people. Peo­ I have never been in the United A letter to Secretary Edward B. Lloyd, under date of March 11th, ple like him. He has a deep religious feeling and conviction, which States before, and I am extremely happy to come to address my Golden President D. Moes, of the "Deutsche he frequently communcates to others. He sometimes writes poetry, Anniversary Congratulations in per­ Dahlen - u. Gladiolen Gesellschaft as you will see later. son to the members of the American E. V." from Dusseldorf, Germany, Dahlia Society - and to meet the sends sincere regrets that he will not Leo does not often look back. He say jeans? Sorry, our mistake. He many friends of the Ballego Family, be able to attend the Celebration of is a forward looking man - but he never wore such things in his life. over here. the 50th Anniversary of the Ameri­ really unburdened his soul and They were silk lined slacks.) The very loaded program for Sep­ can Dahlia Society. This is due, he jogged his memory to dictate his Back to the story. \.\lhile Leo was tember does not permit me to stay said principally to financial reasons. reminiscences, over the almost half absent, the big juggernaut garbage in the U.S.A. as long as I desire. He expressed hope that the A. D.S. a century of his close connection disposer came along, the helper And that is a great misfortune, the Officials "will post to him and his with dahlia people and the Ameri­ picked up the dahlias and heaved more whilst I shall not have the society on the events which transpire can Dahlia Society. He told us to them into the "maw." No dahlia opportunity to accept all of the many at the International Dahlia meeting delete any part we wished. But we clumps were ever more completely invitations of friends (it would take in New York in September. Also think you will agree that there is so divided. He decided not to plant a year or about!!!) and get acquaint­ ed with the proverbially hospitality that the World's Dahlia Congress much of the kindly, human touch them. of the American Dahlia People. will make history in in arranging an mingled with fond memories in his This editor came to know Leo accord on many problems before its story, that little could be left out. As a member of the Council of Pollak well indeed during World the Netherland Dahlia Society, body." One item Leo left out, and upon War II. Mr. Pollak headed his own member of the Committee of Judges, He announced that he and the which we fear, he will be silent to­ manufacturing company in Kearney, The Classification - Nomenclature West German Society agree "in prin­ night. This is how he divided his N. J. This company made steel and Committee, the Society takes a good ciple with the aims and plans of the dahlia clumps early in 1963. He aluminum products for the Navy. part of my time. I only mention my British Dahlia Society on matters of took them to his garden in the trunk There were ammunition cases, struc­ work for the co-operative exhibits Classification and Color." of the N. D. S. in various coun­ of his Cadillac, one day in April. tural units for aircraft, including This all with the best wishes of tries of Europe: England, Germany, He took out the cartons containing wing bomb holders and the like. Switzerland, Austria, the weekly the German Society for a most ex­ the roots, set them beside the road, Towards the war's end, the com­ Shows of the Royal General Bulb­ cellent and successful celebration of while he went to the potting shed to pany began to design aluminum growers Association and the fort­ the Anniversary. - Signed, D. Moes, change to his garden jeans. (Did we utensils for the home. Our adver- nightlies of the Royal Horticultural President.

Page 6 The A. D. S. Golden Year Dahlia Record Hopes Expressed For International Accord In Classifications _-\ meeting was held this afternoon attended by members of ture long rooted in the procedures the Classification Groups or Committees of the Dahlia Societies and action of the societies here and of all the nations present at this "World's Dahlia Congress." abroad. Your reporter was not present and therefore this cannot be a New Color Charts? Yerbatim report. Yet, some who were present gave some informa­ The Royal Horticultural Society tion which forms the basis of this story. (United Kingdom), has r ecently ap­ Mr. C. Gordon Medlen, the present Secretary of National pointed a Color Chart Committee, Dahlia Society Classification and Mr. John Brown, Chairman it was r eported. This is under the of the National Society of Great Britain nd Mr. E. F. Newsom, Chairmanship of Sir George Taylor, Secretary of N. D . S. Mr. Frank W. Harrison, Secretary of the D. S. C., V . M. H . (Director of the Royal Botanical Gardens at K ew). North o f England Dahlia Society and Mr. Philip Damp, Presi­ Messrs. Stuart Ogg and Mr. C. Gor­ dent of the Midlands Dahlia Society were present. They reported don Medlen also serve on this com­ on the progress to date, towards an International Agreement on mittee. Dahlia Names, Types and Colors. I t is proposed to print an entirely Mr. Stanley Johnson, of Philadelphia, Secretary of the J oint new Color Chart. Many Color Charts Classification Committee of the American Dahlia Society and the have been examin ed, including those Central States Society, was present and introduced the v isitors in fo r eign use, such as : (a) Plangen­ from overseas. Also present were Committee members Mr. Charles farber A tlas (Biesalski), Germany, M. Diffenderffer of Baltimore, H on orary Chairman; Dr. Bruce 1957; (b) Colors in Color (Wan­ Preas; Mr. Henry O lsen; Mr. Andrew Mulcahy, all of Long scher ), D enmark; and (c) Nicker­ man Color Fan (American H orti cul­ Island; Dr. C. H. Rike of Birmingham, Ga.; Mr. Paul Hale of ture Color Council). Brighton, lllinois; Dr. William Van Horn of Milwaukee, Wis., :\ o m en ti on was made of the May­ and others. They were intro duced. trott Color Chart, based on the dahl­ International Reclassification, 1966 ia applicable colors, adapted from the Mr. Medlen told of the progress in Britain on the reclassifica­ Royal Horticultural Color Chart, tion under the International Horticultural Congress Agreement, which is now used by most dahlia which, it is expected, w ill be implicated in the 10th Edition of the judges in America. Nor was the Ridgeway Color Chart, by H oen & Classified List to be published in 1966. Co., Baltimore, which was used until the International Horticultural Con­ Unofficial talks, it was stated, were practice in Holland, by most of the out of print in 1941 , but the '"b ible" gress in Washington, in 1966. being carried out, on this subject, commercial firm s. of mos t h o rticultural groups in with other countries throughout the American L ist of Cultivars H as America for more than two decades. world, to a point where great hopes The Modified Classification Been Available Since 1948 are expected fo r an ultimate agree­ of Dahlias in Britain T hirteen Color Classifications m ent. This could take place at the Mr. Stanley J ohnson, Chairman of Approved in Britain At the Brussels meeting, Mr. C. G. International Horticultural Commis­ the J oint Classification List in Amer­ M edl en proposed and was seconded The National Dahlia Society has sion m eeting in Washington, D. C. ica at this point, stated that he be­ by Dr. B. Boom, of Netherlands, that approved thirteen color classifi ca­ in 1966. The last meeting of this li eved that the American Classifi ca­ the International Commission fo r tions and have submitted them to the body was in Brussels, held August ti on List and that of the National Horticulture Nomenclature strongly joint Dahlia Committee. If these are 31st, 1962. Dahlia Society were started about recommend that all "N" ational Author­ approved finally, they will, we are in­ At this meeting in Brussels, Mr. the sam e time, in 1948, and in his ities adopt, for cul tivators, the Clas­ formed, be recommended to the H or­ Medlen reported, the Chairman, Dr. opinion it would be a simple act fo r sification scheme compiled jointly by ticulture Council meeting in 1966. J. S. L. Gilmore and the Secretary, each socety to furnish a list of culti­ the Royal Horticul ture Society and These are: Dr. H . R. Fletcher. were elected to vators to the International Horticul­ the National Dahlia Society (United Group No. I-White. Group No. deal with the subj ect of Internation­ tural Commission. In fact, this had Kingdom). This resolution was unan­ 2-Yell ow. Group No. 3-Bronze. al )J°omenclature and R egistration. been done by the American Dahlia imously adopted. The :\Iodified Clas­ Group No. 4-0range and Flame. Messrs. J ohn Brown and C. Gordon Society, even befo re the Brussels sification of Dahlias were: Group No. 5-Red. Group X o. 6- Medlen formally sp onsored the de­ n1 eeting. Dark Red. Group No. 7-Light Pink. sign for an accord on behalf of Great Group No. 1 -Single Flowered Group No. 9-Lilac, Lavender and Britain. At this Brussels meeting, it Steps to D ate in Great Britain Group )Jo. 2 -Anemone M a uve. Gro up No. 10-Purp le. was also reported, that it was appar­ O ne decision has already been Group;:\o. 3- Collarette Group :\To. 11-Blends. Group No. ent that the delegates from Belgium, taken in England, it was reported, Group No. 4- P eony 12-Bicolors. Group No. 13-Vari e­ France, Sweden, and West Germany Group No. 5- D ecorative which will aid in settling accord in gated. snpported the recommendations of types. This is the deletion of the Group No. 6- Bal! the delegation from Great Britain in "Show and Fancy" as a Group fr om Group No. 7 - Pompon F lam e was added to th e Orange principle. It was hoped that the the li st. Further, this Group has been Group No. 8 - Cactus Group because it was favored and U. S. A. would also concur. in corporated with the large and m e­ Group No. 9 - Semi-Cactus used in America and Australia. I t Among these r ecomm endations dium Pompons into a new Group Group No. 10- Miscellaneous was expressed though, at the com­ were: with the t itle of "Ball Dahlias." I t There will be consid erable di scus- mittee meeting, that "Salm on" would \\·as pointed out by the American sion of such grouping, before they be included but that sentiment m et (1) Substitute ''Group" in stead of with opposition. It was also sug­ ''Section., in various catego­ Committee that this is in line with are adopted by the American Group, gested that the term "Autumn" as n es. the present American Classification in all probability. M embers of the grouping. In their J oint List, it is American Committee stated that the a color, as used in the American (2) Omit "Section XI"' -D warf established procedure to divide the practice of long duration, and senti­ Dahlia Society Color Chart, be even­ Bedding D ahlias. various groups above the Miniature ment in favor of, dividing D ecora­ tually deleted fro m Internat ional (3) Omit " Group" " Show and and Pompon Group. I n the Ball tives into For mal and In fo r mal Nom enclature. Both " Salmon" and Fancy." Group, divisions are made between Groups here is deeply rooted. An­ .. Autumn"' are diffi cult to describe Another r ecommendation adopted the miniature Ball s (40 inches), and other question undoubtedly, would and to recall or m emorize in a flo wer. was that the Secretary of the Horti­ Balls (over 40 inches). Also, the be about Group No. 10, ''Miscellane­ I t was not stated that there had been cultural Commission make every en­ D ecorative and Cactus Groups a re ous." One Committeeman remarked any consultation with the American deavor possible to persuade D ahlia each divided into two size Groups : that this seem ed to him like having Dahlia Society, originators of the Societies throughout the world to " B" Medium and "A" L arge. Just a big waste basket, into which are Color Classes now used in America. take over the duties of National R eg­ w hat will be decided as to this prac­ dumped all types that cannot be de­ (\Vhile this discussion of "Autumn" istration and to also prepare Na­ tice for the International Standards scribed or classifi ed at the m oment. as a color was in progress, there was tional Check Lists of cultivar names, was not discussed, we were told. It is evident to this reporter it will a di sturbance, with some loud voices which will be available not later than But, this latter division in D ecora­ take more than one m eeting to amal­ heard, near the door. It did not last six months prior to the meeting of tives and Cactus Groups is also the gamate the standards of Nomencla- (Continued o n next page)

September 18-20, l964 Page 7 HOPES EXPRESSED FOR tate in Connecticut), produced in this INTERNATIONAL ACCORD period many excellent closed center, Looking Back and Forward stiff stemmed dahlias. Bessie Boston IN CLASSIFICATIONS (Cont'd) By George W. Fraser of San Mateo, J essie L. Seal and Alice Maussdorffer, San Francisco; long and is reported in another col­ Charter M.ember and Past President, A. D. S. umn.) Carl Salbach, Oakland; C. W. Bal­ lay, Los Altos; J. J. Bromall, Eagle However, the late George F. Dray­ Like the bird which flew backward to see where he had been, Rock, were some of the western son in 1962 made the statement, all dahlia growers should look back now and then. growers who at this time also began "There are many dahlia growers who When I look back on the progress that has been made by to breed larger dahlias, with better consider that the American color this society in the past fifty years, (and I have been with it all stems. But we had the R. Vincent & classification with its fourteen color along the road, altho' not as active of late) I am really amazed Sons, W. W. Kennedy, John Schee­ classes is, in several respects, supe­ at the evolution in dahlia breeding, growing, testing of new pers, Louis Alling, Peacock, J. K. rior to our own. That might well be varieties and exhibiting. Alexander, and many others in the born in mind, if and when our (::\ . east who were coming along with D. S.) color classification is re-con­ Leot's Go Back 50 Years new and improved varieties, also. sidered." The types of dahlias grown fifty years ago, were mostly At any rate, this improvement in No Light and Dark Blends small to medium, (as we now rate them), decoratives, cactus, dahlias continued until 1923, when Whether the American Groups will 'show,' pompon, paeony, collarettes and singles. Stems were weak William H. Waite, down in Rumson, insist on retaining t he '"Autumn" as and short. Many decoratives had open centers. In the shows, ?\ ew Jersey, produced a new and a color is conjecture. The same is they were exhibited in fruit jars or milk bottles. The mouths super dahlia, which he called Jersey true of Dark and L ight Blends. The of the jars helped to support the weak stems so the v isitors could Beauty. It proved to be the greatest combining of Orange and Flame look the flowers in the face. commercial dahlia of all time. It sold seems quite logical. Also having two Classes in the sho\\·s, in those dahlias to compete with chrysanthe­ originally for $SO .DO per root and is classes for Pink-Light and Dark is days, sometimes called for say 100 mums in the shows, and use for fa ll still available today and because of good, so say many here. The Lilac, varieties by name. There were also decoration. Dahlias, they told us, its beautiful pink color and long Lavender and Mauve Group fits the classes for SO, 2S and so down the should be bred for longer stems, and keeping qualities, more blooms of American Classification, which de­ line-some classes were exhibited stiff enough to hold the blooms Jersey Beauty have been sold in scribes Lavender to include :-irauve in baskets, where wiring of the stems straight. Also to keep longer when America than those of any other and Phlox Pink. to help support the blooms was cut. So, you see, the 'professionals' dahlia. permitted. And sizes were so gen­ of our early days did realize some of "So, I repeat, the progress and im­ The "Names" of Colors erally small, that one could carry the drawbacks of the early days of provement in size, colors, sterns and Any change in Color Charts usu­ many of them in a large basket or this society. formations in the past SO years has all y involves inserting some wholly cardboard box and take the train or been truly amazing. In the east, . · 1 ' ' • ·' ~/~ new color names. Changing names ~·· \ ·1 -~ - ~ ••: ,. middle west and on the Pacifi c coast, street car or even a taxi and set ~ - ) ,.J«.'fl ·: of colors leads to much confusion on up many exhibits. Not many of us breeders have produced new varie­ the part of judges. For instance, in had automobiles then, and certainly ties which were the vision and hope the listing of the new N. D. S. Color there were no airplanes to ship of the pioneers who started the Classification in the 1964 N. D. S. blooms fast to the shows, say from American Dahlia Society in 1915 . Yearbook, we note ''Ruby Red" list­ coast to coast or from E urope to an !Looking Ahead ed in the Purples. And why does American show, as is done today. "With these accomplishments be­ Rose Opal belong in the Red Group? When the first A. D. S. show ·was hind us, it is rather difficult for us to Color No. 0027 is also entirely new held in the Metropolitan Museum, foresee what new progress ''"ill be to us. It is "Erythrite" and, in the most of the exhibitors in competitive made in dahlias in the next half cen­ dictionary is defined as "Cobalt Blue.'" classes were gardeners from the big tury. But I'm sure there will be in­ Then how can Erythrite be red? We estates in Connecticut and Long Is­ novations and changes for the better. also confess that we cannot distin­ land. They spared no expense or One thing, progress never stops in guish between Mauve and Mauvette. space to grow thousands of the va­ horticulture. I guess we just ha,·e to But your r eporter is thankful that rieties of the period, many of which want better varieties and more coop­ most of the names in the proposed were imported from Europe. There eration between dahlia people and Color Chart are the same as now were hundreds of the most famous work hard and they will come. used in the Maytrott Color Chart imports "Stredwick" and "Rider" "Gone are the slapstick-unrelated which he has used for the past 25 cactus varieties shown. methods of exhibiting dahlias-gone years. But we stray from our job of are the milk bottles as containers. In One of Our Objectives reporting and go into editorializing, place of the badly planned, poorly which is not good journalism. "The purpose and recommendation scheduled shows, there are today of the Judges on the first A. D. S. nearly 100 fall dahlia shows in Amer­ Conjecture? Mr. Richard Vincent, Jr •• Executive Board. which, by the way, ica, with splendidly arranged, care­ As a matter of fact, to all you good included many florists, was that we First President of A. D. S. with George Fraser, on the Balcony fully scheduled dahlia exhibitions. people who read this, we drop the should encourage people to grow Please recall that all of these are pretense that we have been reporting of the Penn. Ball Room based on American Dahlia Society an actual meeting of Classification "That endeavor to find a real com­ Size, Form and Color Classes. They Committee members from many tion has been made in Great Britain petitor for 'Mums,' as a florist's flow­ may vary in Artistic Arrangement, lands. This article was written back than in America. It is time that we, er, was one of the original objectives Basket Displays and other details, in May, 1964, in advance by five in the A. D. S. and the C. D. S. as of the group heading the American but in the main they follow A. D. S. months, of any meeting held in New authors of the Joint List here, join Dahlia S ociety in the early 1900s. Official Exhibition Rules, which had York in September. It was, shall we our friends in England and other And, I might add, it was successfully their birth back in 1915." say, concocted from many sources, countries, in planning together to accompli shed, as all gardeners and "I believe the future of the dahlia some of which we trust, were author­ consolidate Dahlia ::\omenclature, florists well know. I regard it as one is bright-that more and more gar­ itative. It is your r eporter's hope. Discriptions, Colors. of the turning points in the popular­ deners will start to grow and show may we add, that some of these Our good friend, the late George ity of the dahlia. them. Its actual ly a competitiYe things really were discussed and Drayson, often wrote about this sub­ flower. Men, particularly when they possibly settled at the Classification ject. He made many visits to Hol­ Improving the Dahlia wax enthusiastic about dahlias, just Meeting. Further, we hope that none land, Belgium and France and dis­ "Ther e were some dahlia breeders have to prove that they can grow of our guests from abroad take of­ cussed the Classifi cation and No­ at that time working with the Paeony them better (and bigger) than their fense at anything printed here. We menclature Internationalization with Geishia which was a good seed and neighbors. Let's keep up that spirit. might be more than the 3,000 miles many people. His hopes, often ex­ pollen parent. Pat O'Mara was an­ I'm certain that the American Dahlia from the actual discussions and con­ pressed, were that some day the other good parent which came from Society will continue to have the clusions as well as on the attitude language of dahlias would be alike Holland about that time, too. From leadership to enable it to continue to of the U. S. A. at this minute. everywhere. He had planned for a those efforts came many new dahlia 'promote the advancement of dahli a We should add th is. In our opin­ long time to be here with us today varieties with the better stems that culture and popularity' \Yhich always ion (again editoriali zing) that much and discuss it further. We know that all breeders had been looking for. has been its objective. Long li,·e more thought and planning fo r an he is with us in spirit. - Lynn B. "John Harding, gardener for Judge the 'Queen of A utumn Flowers, the International Accord on Classifica- Dudley. Marean, of 'Greens Farms' (his es- Dahlia'."-G. W. F.

Page 8 The A. D. S. Golden Year Dahlia Record New Jersey T ercenfenial Pavilion Venfe/ated The New Jersey Tercentenial the \Vorld"s Fair Corporation. This Building at the World's Fair occu­ was left to us 1003 , and the present pies a two-acre space. It has a lack of protection to the horticul­ variety of exhibits from various in­ tural exhibits indicates our fears stitutions and sections of the state were well based. Also, the "natural and is well worth a visit by those air- conditioning" of this pavilion who are attending the SOth Anni­ could easily have proven fatal to a versary of the A. D. S. dahlia exhibition, and we could not It has hollies and azaleas from justify any proposal or plan for at­ Rutgers Universary. Displays by the tempting such a questionable exhibi­ States' Garden Clubs, Parkway and tion. It was therefore decided mutu­ Turnpike Commissions. It is located ally that our World Dahlia Congress adjacent to the Theme Center, near Exhibition would feature the Ter­ Mrs. D. Eveleens Maarse Mr. Maarse, the Grand Central Parkway, so it is centenary Dahlia on September 19th, (Bruidegom) Baarn, Holland easy to find. with the Governor or his representa­ tive in attendance to present the But it's really too bad that the Medallion of the Tercentenary Com­ ers came to our rescue in some very )Jew J ersey Dahlia Society and the mission to the winner. Please note Congratulations hard times. We are also aware that A . D. S. were not invited to plant page 12, Class 4 of the Show Sched­ dahlias in the grounds surrounding the h istory of this mighty metropolis, ule. This, the 300th Birthday of From the Maarses the Pavillion. Its ''open-air" situation New York, started three hundred New J ersey, the SOth Anniversary would have favored a da hlia plant­ In Holland years ago, with the settlement of Exhibition of our Society; and the ing. Also the predominance of the "W'e wish to congr atu late the some 2,500 people from our low year of the 50th annual Father's dahlia as a garden flo wer in ~ ew countries. There is a kinship be­ Day-together with the latest in­ American Dahlia Society on its Gold­ Jersey would have fully justified vasion of New York by the British en Anniversary. It is a great occa­ tween our two p eoples, beginning such a planting. Eel Lloyd acids : will prove to be quite a party! \,Y e sion for everyone, members and visi­ three centuries ago. "Soil and climate conditions worked hope we see you !'"-E. B. L. tors alike. We hope we wi ll be in "May your country and your so­ against this angle of the project."' New York in September to help you (See his explanation belo\\" .) ciety continue to move towards a celebrate. The T ercentenary Pavilion, ac­ • • • still greater future."-Mr. a nd Mrs. "This will be o ur first visit to the cording to its architect, Phillip Sheri­ D. Eveleens Maarse (Fa. D. Bruide­ dan Collins, is an open air structure "Bing" Chambers Out United States of America. We will because the state Commission could be moved by the fact that we at last gom), Baarn, the Netherlands, June, of Dahlia Selling not afford to wall it in. \'isit in a country whose dahlia grow- 1964. );Iaybe I can get a word in the The budget started out with one "Record" that I am no longer in million dollars in the "kitty"'. A sub­ business-and friends in the A. D. S. scription campaign, late in the plan­ please don't ask for price lists-be­ ning, added $400,000.00-but it is cause I have neither the time, energy still minus walls. It was originally or money to notify all who wrote me intended to have air-conditioning, this year that I cannot comply. But 0 which would have added another I will still grow some dahlias for r:.,: half million to the cost. ~ ot having per sonal pleasure-and maybe a few the where-with-al! for this luxury, seedlings, too. (Portland, Ore.) it has ended up with just natural air conditioning-because of no walls. • • • Our A . D. S. Secretary, Edward B. Lloyd was a member of Tercen­ These Men Guided the A. D. S. tenial Committee. But he has been In the first half century of its op­ strangely silent about the whole pro­ erations, this society has had eigh­ ject of late. See n ote below. But teen elected Presidents. There would The Pavilion has 21 open sided, can­ have been eighteen individuals. ex­ opy covered, exhibit areas, each with cept that one of them, Andrew J. a display clepecting some facet of Mulcahy, was elected to the post life in New Jersey. But, alas, no twice. The net is seventeen men. Dahlias. But our guests. who are There are thirteen still living, and interested in various horticultural most of them are still active in the planning will be well rewarded in society's affairs. Here is a r oster of visiting the New Jersey Pavilion. the men who have guided the affairs There is nearly a million and a half and destiny of the society over the dollars worth of building and dis­ 50 years just past : plays to observe and adopt ideas 1915-1926 Richard Vincent, Jr. about horticulture and other produc­ 1927 James Duthie tion material o f one of the greatest 1928 N . Harold Cottam states in this Union. 1929 C. Louis Alling Bulletin Editor Lloyd adds a note : 1930-1931 Thomas Leavitt " Soil exploration revealed a tre­ 1932-1933 vVarren Maytrott mendous amount of m oney would be 1934 Derrill W. Hart required to make the grounds sur­ 1935-1936 George \V. Fraser rounding the New J ersey Pavil ion 1937-38-39 Lynn B. Dudley suitable for dahlias. The expense was 1940-1941 Conrad Frey beyond us ! Another big feature in 1942-43-44-45 Edward B. Lloyd your Golden Anniversary Commit­ 1946-1947 G ordon C. W aaser tee's decision not to promote this 1948-49-50-51-52 Leo L. Pollak planting was the thought of proper 1953-54-55 Andrew J. ::vr ulcahy FROM THE LONDON HUMORIST- 1931 care for the dahlias and by whom? 1956-57-58 Dr. Bruce Preas Prison Visitor-"! know you are not entirely bad, because I've heard that you For rewarding results to us and to 1959-60-61 Bertram Pitt took most of the sweepstakes at your local dahlia show." our visitors we required a certain 1962 Andrew J. Mulcahy Prisoner-" 'Course I did. That's why I'm here." amount of protection and care from 1963-1964 Harry A. Dreyer

September 18-21}; 1964 Page 9 It is our belief, based on the many is probably (and fortunately, too), letters telling how the plantings were less politics in these groups than in A Looi{_ Forward made, and liked, that the real basis any garden society set up. Their one for continued dahlia popularity m objective 1s patterned after the By Warren W. Maytrott, Vineland, N. J. America, lies in promoting them as A. D.S. original goal, which is: "To a decorative adjunct to garden and stimulate interest in, and promote As one grows older, looking back is quite easy and most of home decoration. We heartily recom­ the culture and development of the us indulge in it. In fact, writing about dahlias today, without dis­ mend that course, in the future. Dahlia." cussing the accomplishments of the American Dahlia Society in its Dahlia Shows Important I venture the prediction that more first fifty years is most difficult. Especially is this true for one who societies wi!J be formed in America We do not wish, in this connec­ with this avowed purpose, in the tion, to detract from the importance has been so closely identified with it, as I have. next 50 years, than in the one 111 Others have, I am sure, covered in these pages, the events and of dahlia shows. They have their which we have taken a small part. progress of the Society's record. So I will try to look ahead for a important place in the dahlia world. And I believe also that the new ones For one thing, shows have g enerated few paragraphs. I do not expect everyone to agree with me. Yet will, as have the majority in the past, better culture, if only because some be associated with the A. D . S. perhaps some of my predictions will come to pass even though they one made certain that his friend or may be based on hope. neighbor would not "beat him out" Culture again in the classes they most often This subject has always been close Why People Buy and Plant Dahlias entered. Shows also interest visitors to our hearts. We have published Without trying to boast, we here at Dahliadel, have grown up to try to grow dahlias for the first up to ten pages of culture instruc­ to 40 acres of dahlias and have sent out up to 25,000 catalogues time. But this involves the advertis­ tions in our catalogues. There was yearly. Always the catalogue has contained culture suggestions to ing or exploiting the show to the a purpose of selfishness in this. We knew that some dahlia beginners be­ help gardeners to take up and make a success of growing them. general gardening public to a point where more than just the same old came discouraged after one or two Our fi les are full of appreciative letters from customers, both old group of dahlia exhibitors '"go years of trying to grow dahlias, for and new. These we treasure. From them we have fe lt the pulse against" each other on the tables. one or more reasons. Chief among of success, and in some cases, failure. From them too, we have Get Amateurs to Exhibit them was lack of knowledge of how to treat them differently than other learned much about the gardening aims of thousands of people in Most dahlia shows do have classes plant material. And dahlias do re­ for novices and/or amateurs. All the fifty years we have been in business. quire some special care and attention. should feature them. I predict that One very important thing we learned from the correspondence, It is also regrettable that many 111 the future the "beginners" in of today's gardeners do not like to was that the smallest percentage of our customers bough t roots and growing dahlias will have more spend a lot of time, or too much back plants with the annou nced objective of growing them for exhibition classes available to them and in many bending labor, 111 their yards and purposes. T he majority bought for, let us say, practical purposes. cases Special Awards which they gardens. And, let us admit it, dahlias will show to their other young home These included just garden planting scemes - for borders - for do take more attention and work and garden makers and thus interest special color massing and for cutting for home decoration. We en­ than say, roses or petunias. Sales­ them in also growing this most ver­ manship is needed to convince gar­ couraged this general use of dahlias by including in earlier cata­ satile of all flowers. I also believe deners that growing good dahlias logues, plot layou ts with suggested varieties, for height, sizes, that show managements will do more takes more effort, but that, if they and colors. publicity in their local newspapers persist, they can produce more amaz­ and with signs and advertising to ing results than with any other attract the gener al public to the ex­ flower. If we can concentrate harder hibitions. It is essential to a growing on this object ive in the future, than preference for dahlias in the gardens in the past, it is our belief we will JOIN NEXT WEEK. of America that this be done. t make many dahlia enthusiasts-and Trial Gardens Will Expand ' Announcing increase the membership and number One of the greatest steps forward of the dahlia societies. by the A. D. S. was the establish­ Research A New Dahlia Growers Club ment of its Trial Gardens in different It was not our intention at the ' sections of the United States. I have start of this effort of prophecy to Any Dahlia Grower Can Join This New Club-IF- , judged in nearly a!J of them and go into details of culture. But we be­ they have a "Tired Streak"-If they Invariably Put Off , helped to design the A. D. S. Score lieve that the success of dahlia grow­ ' Till Tomorrow-the Important Tasks That Should Have Cards, which all will agree, I am ing in the future is so coupled with sure, made possible the almost scien­ Been Done Last Week-OR-If they Are Just Plain Lazy. ' the health of our gardens, that we tific evaluation by the judges of the Are you constitutionally tired? Do you invite your friends in ' must speak about the one thing new varieties. to help spade your garden? Do you leave the heavy tasks like ' which has the m ost to do with keep­ Another thing which the Trial weeding and cultivating your wife? Do you sit in a chair or t ing our dahlias healthy. This lies in to Gar dens accomplished was the joint the control of the insects which carry hammock when you water the d.ahlias? Are you alergic to hand • co-operation between the A. D. S. virus diseases from diseased plants blisters? and the societies at scene of each, to to the healthy ones. If so, you are a logical candid.ate-perhaps for an officership, supervise and arrange for competent On this subject of dahlia diseases, judges to score the en tries. This in this new Club. Incidentally, we forgot to mention that it is called there is more to discourage the made a close bond between the Na­ "DAHLIA GROWERS PROCRASTINATION CLUB." growing of better dahlias than we tional society and the societies as­ like to admit. We have followed the National Procrastination Week would have been observed in , sociated w ith it to improve the growing incident of virus damage to your locality last week except that we "put off'' notifying you about strains of new and better varieties. dahlias over the past 30 years. Again, it. You probably "ducked out" of a lot of important jobs that ' No other flower group has made the American Dahlia Society took week, anyway. • such a success of new variety test­ the leadership in trying to solve this ing. I predict that the importance There are no rules or by-laws. No advice will be offered to ' problem. In 1962 it inaugurated a of the Trial Gardens to dahlia pro­ members on how to avoid doing the things they should do. But ' program of Research into these g ress w ill be increased immeasurably any member who "invents" new ways to "stall," should report t diseases with the plant pathology in the next fi fty years. (when they get around to it) to headqu,arters. Any member so , department of Rutgers University reporting a really new way to procrastinate, will automatically , Society Cooperation at New Brunswick, N. ]. I was chair­ become a Vice-President of the Club. I am told over sixty dahlia societies man of the society's committee on have contributed Medals and Tro­ Research when this study began and Join Next Week * Write For Entry Blank, Perhaps phies as awards for the A. D. S. have followed its progress since then. ·os 2u!OP oi punoJt? sp:J ;i4s Fiftieth Anniver sary Show. To me, The present Chairman is our friend, u;i4M- pUni[ 4:lJB;JS;J"H sp;iqo"H S!no1 ·r ;i4l U! dlUllS l!SOd;ip II!M ;i4s this is a real indication that there Dr. Frederick Knocke, who is As­ ·r ·N 'p1;iyu;i:JJ;ig ';inu;it.y pno:lJt?H S9 I 'J;iA:;i:w ;iu!JOrn'.) ·sJw oi '4st?:l is a oneness in the aims of the many sistant Director of the Princeton Jo >(:l;J4:l '00" ! $ pu;is 'u!o[ oi 4S ! -~ noA: H ·d!l{S J;iqm;im oi p;i4nn E dahlia societies and Conferences Hospital. lSO:l l42!JS B S! ;}J;J4l lB4l UO!lU;JlU Ol lO:JrnJ ;JM S;JA '40 ~S;JnQ which operate in America to further Dr. Knocke is the authority for the popularity of this flower. There (Continued on opposite page)

Paqe 10 The A. D. S. Golden Year Dahlia Record A LOOK FORWARD (Cont'd) is very apt to discourage not only When Serology tests are available, the novice grower, but also those as we in the American Dahlia So­ the progress of the study, which is more experienced ones who wish to ciety are hoping that they will be, still going on. He believes that a place the gorgeous new variety on then diseases of dahlias will be easier serological test method of determin­ the show tables. Let all introducers to eradicate. ing if a plant is infected, will soon and originators resolve to offer the be determined. If it takes still longer Let Us Look Forward public only the most resistant and to find the answers to this virus healthy varieties. As we said in the beginning, it is disease problem, it is our opinion easy to look back. We can get some that the A. D. S. will pursue the Spraying satisfaction by doing it also. But study to a successful conclusion. We The control of the insects which to look and plan ahead for greater are also of the belief that much will carry the poisons of virus is be­ achievements and the overcoming of be done in the next few years to coming more important than ever. difficulties in the promotion of dahlia help dahlia growers eradicate the Today, such insects as Aphids, culture is more rewarding. The diseases from their gardens. Thrips, along with Spider Mites, American Dahlia Society, being blest Resistant Strains Leaf Hoppers are not only doing over the years, with competent and NORMAN WILLIAMS - AUSTRALIA Now, we are of the belief that much damage to plants and retard­ understanding leadership, can have ing their normal growth, but the a future which will far surpass in The ori g inator of the "W illow" st rain of much can be done in reducing dis­ Pompons, t a ke n a mong his 2000 porn plant­ eases of dahlias by developing new first two do much greater damage accomplishments the half century by carrying di sease infected plant past, if everyone resolves to do hi s ings. This was take n in April, 1964 in his strains which are resistant to the garden in Newcast le, Australi a. diseases. Some present varieties are juices from one plant to another or her part.-Warren W. Maytrott, thus spreadin g the viruses. We now Vineland, New Jersey. (P.S. We "carriers" of virus and should be NETTE LEA , pink min. cac.; DIANNE discarded. We have el iminated from have spray materials with greater acknowledge the help, in preparing MEEHAN, pink exhibition cactus, our plantings all such dangerous killing range than a few years ago. this, from a certain "ghost writer" over 6"; JACK ROBERTSON, charm; "Typhoid Marys." But the insects build up immunity now living in California.) from the sprays. Other, and more MRS. M. SPE!\"CER, yellow cactus. Pre-testing New Varieties effective chemicals will be developed Some good Pompoms received The growing of seedling dahlias for greater effectiveness in the fu­ awards besides PAM, described above ture. But, because the cycle of re­ is becoming more fascinating every were: GRAND WILLOW, MARGARET year. It is my hope that in the future production for some of the insects WILLIAMS, WALLSEND WILLOW, such new dahlias will be grown for is five days or less, frequent spray­ several years before they are offered ing is essential to control them. The WALLSEND JUBILEE, and RED JUBILEE. to the public. The practice of making chemicals must have the power to Norman Williams Reports (Editor's note: Norman Williams, many plants from a new one in the kill eggs as well as live predators. On Newcastle, Aus. Shows author of this report, is the acknowl­ second year and rushing it on the It is thus becoming more apparent edged champion introducer of fine market, before its resistance to dis­ each year that the control of insects Here are a few general comments pompon dahlias. He is the origina­ ease is determined, is a dangerous and the diseases spr ead by them is on all classes of Dahlias, covering all tor of all of the varieties in the para­ imperative if we are to have healthy procedure. We should first prove shows in and around the Newcastle graph above. All of them won cer­ their ability to resist the several dahlia gardens in the future. I feel and Cessnock d istricts, in Australia, tificates in Australian trial gardens. dahlia virus diseases, to which they sure that growers will, in the dahlia's in 1964. will be subjected, when placed on the tomorrows, take greater pains to We hope that Mr. Williams will open market. rogue out diseased plants as soon as The shows began on February 18 keep on in the work of originating Many introductions do not last detected as dangerous to all the and continued to March 4. I should these excellent porns which have con­ more than a couple of years. This healthy plants in their gardens. m ention tha t the Cessnock district tributed to the winning of so many embraces a large coal m ining area. awards all over the world-L. B. D.) Weather conditions prior to the shows was often cloudy, which had --0-- AUTOMATED DAHLIAS the effect of not giving the bright eyed brilliance of color during the Let's face it. We live in a machcine age. Our dahlias are You A re Invited To machine produced. best half of the season. The Grand Champion awards Visit A nother Show We design all our own devices to speed up production of were well deserved, as were the "Automated Dahlias." Champion Awards. Some of the lat­ The first show of a new A . D. S. Affiliated Society The Mid - Island ter awards went to: ANNETTE LEAH, Our planting is done with Dillydel Planters. We dig the Dahlia Society, wi!J be held Septem­ a new seedling miniature cactus, size ber 26th, and all visitors to the roots with a big Special home designed digger. We use water 4%" under 6". MRs. M. SPENCER, a A. D. S. SOth Anniversary Celebra­ with overhead sprinklers, from our own deep wells with new charm cactus release, size 3" by tion and show are cordially invited to attend. It will be staged in one 4%", color lilac; WHITE Ronrn, a poweiful Dillydel pumps. of the best exhibition halls on Long charm cactus; JACK ROB ERTSON, Island about 30 miles from the New We use our ashes from greenhouse h eaters after steam steri­ charm cactus, lavender with white Yorker. Locale, the Dime Savings lization, for potting soil. center; HARVEST MooN, medium cac­ Bank, Greenacres Shopping Cente1· in Valley Stream, N. Y. tus, 6" by 7", creamy yellow, fimbri­ Our Thirty Acres of Automated Dahlias are visited by The Mid-Island Society was re­ a ted petals; SHANG RILA , medium for. thousands of satisfied customers each season who are f asci­ cently formed by a group of Long dee., pale pink, overlaid deep mauve, Island Dahlia Enthusiasts. It may nated to see roots come out of hoppers, all ready to plant. size over 6"; GOLDEN MELODY, large not be as big a show as the A. D. S.­ F. decorative, over 7" diameter; LEw, N ew ] ersey show, but the quality BOTTOM DOLLAR VARIETIES large, F. Dec., mauve; MINNIE JACK­ of our blooms will not be lacking. Many of our members exhibited at RESULT : We can sell 2.00 and $3.00 dahlias for $1.00 each. SON, large cactus, over 7", yellow; this show here in the New Yorker - A Machine Age Triumph. GAIL MARGARET, large cactus, over (and won awards, too) and you are 7", golden amber. assured of a good exhibition, when D id you get our SOth Anniversay Catalogue? They are you come.-George Stein, 28 Cantur­ Awards to pompons were: PAM, bury Rd., Woodbury, ):/_ Y. Collector's Items n ow, YES - and we thank our 25,000 Cus­ creamy white overlaid pink; W1L­ --0-- tomers for their p citronage - Lows VIOLET; JOSEPHINE ]\if ARKS, col­ or cyclemen; LADY LOOKOUT, ma­ Middle age for a dahlia man is roon; GOLDEN WILLOW, gold, buff when he doesn't care where he goes ITS TRULY "A GOLDEN YEAR" FOR yellow; LINDA HARRIS, pale pink. just so he is home by 9 P.M. --o-- DILL YDEL GARDENS GRAND CHAMPIONS, 1964 j\ o dahlia man is completely Vinewood, New J ersey The new varieties selected by the worthless. He can always serve as judges, with top ratings were: AN- a horrible example.

September 18-20, 1964 Page 11 years is a distinct disappointment Education classes at Michigan State The Mid West Dahlia Trial Garden to me. However, the growth of University, also around the state. Michigan State University has been But the best news in his letter was Comple tes It's Cycle so great (one of the 10 largest uni­ that "I will continue working with versities in the U. S.) that space for the dahlia groups and will continue By Dr. Carrick E. Wildon these trials has become increasingly to publish the Michigan Dahlia difficult. Increasing duties of staff Bulletin. I will also judge dahlia judge the trials each year until in members, and a limited staff, makes shows and conduct Dahlia Judging the opinion of the supervisor they it that much more difficult to find Schools. Of course I wilJ miss not had become expert judges. Not until some one willing to take on the having my Mid-West Dahlia Trial the scoring of new judges had the extra work required to properly Garden, but even without it to work aproval of the supervisor were the maintain the trials. and worry over, I hope to be busy." scores counted in the final scoring. My thanks to all the judges, the A recent letter from Dr. Wildon V irus D iseases a Big Problem trial grounds committees of the tells us that, beginning July 25, he Within a few years, I realized that A. D. S. and the Michigan Dahlia conducted the Southeastern Michi­ virus diseases of the dahlia were Society, and dahlia growers for the gan Judging School for five weeks. prevalent all over the country. Fear­ splendid cooperation I have received As one member of the American ing that the practice of returning over the years. Some of my finest Dahlia Society, and I believe I speak clumps to owners at the end of the friendships have resulted from my for all its officers, this society owes season was serving to spread these work with dahlias.-Dr. C. E. Wil­ Dr. Wildon much gratitude for his diseases stili further, I finally pre­ don, East Lansing, Michigan. devotion for 34 years to the evalua­ vailed upon the A. D . S. to allow tion of new varieties sent to him for trial. In that time he has helped the trial grounds to destroy dahlias D r. Carrick E. W ildon R etires thousands of dahlias to secure just at the end of the season. This elim­ As he has said in the above article, inated much work fo r the trial recognition. Originators and intro­ Dr. Wildon, after 34 years, the grounds supervisor and prevented ducers of new varieties know of his A. D . S. Trial Garden at Michigan organization of competent judging spreading of disease from the trial The Mid West Dahlia Trial Gar­ State University, East Lansing will groups and I'm sure thank him for grounds back to producers of new den was established in 1934. When be discontinued. That is in itself a the aid given them by the Mid-West varieties. In r ecent years the A. D.S. the A.D.S. approved the establish­ great loss to dahlia growers who Trial Garden, under C. E. Wildon's has changed the rule to allow own­ ment of the new Trial Gardens, I have come to expect the fairest and direction, to obtain A. D. S. Certi­ ers to get their clumps back at the made a careful study of the operation most professional judging of new ficates fer their entries. end of the season. This is a definite of the trials at Storrs. I had known varieties, there under Dr. Wildon's mistake and is bound to spread Yes, all dahliadom owes a vote of Prof. Roland Patch for many years direction. thanks to Dr. Wildon. If you are and when I was at Rhode I sland we disease. No grower who obtains clumps from the trial grounds is But there is more to the story. Dr. here at this celebration, you may visited back and forth many times. Wildon retired from Michigan· State thank him in person, for he is here I realized that it was the enthusiasm likely to be free of virus diseases. I would advise the supervisors of U. on July 1st, 1964. He said in a somewhere, we're sure. But if you and faith of Geo. Frasier and Prof. letter dated April 20, last, that he 'couldn't make it,' then his address Patch which made Storrs an im­ Trial Grounds to do everything pos­ sible to eliminate virus diseases by expected to keep his former home is above. Please write him a note portant Trial Ground for dahlias and address, which is: 823 Huntington with expression of your own apprec­ while the membership gave them carefully rogueing out diseased plants as noted and to work to have Road, East Lansing, Mich. He plans iation for the half a lifetime he has full support there did not seem to to do consulting work on his favor­ spent helping others to know and be a sufficient number of trained A. D. S. rule against returning clumps from the trial gr ounds. ite business vocation, horticulture. love dahlias more. When the cheers judges to help them with the scoring. In fact, he already is serving one for Dr. W. start, you will see this When we started the trials here Double Judging With Slides firm. He will also teach Con-tinuing editor trying to lead them. -L.B.D. at Lansing, I decided that my first From the first year we took color job would be to secure 15 to 20 well pictures of the dahlias on trial. When trained judges who could be depend­ the judging was completed, usually ed on to judge the trials each year. in October for us, we brought the With this in mind we decided on judges together to go over the scor­ a dahlia field day with instructors to ing. Each dahlia picture would be help the judges in the technical de­ projected on the screen and the scor­ That Will Be The Day tails. We invited Warren Maytrott ings discussed and, if necessary, cor­ to help us in this and he very kindly rected. When aphids and beetles and cutworms too consented. He spent a good portion Our further advice to supervisors Will learn our dahlias to eschew; ' of the day going over the trials point of Trial Gardens is that they make When timely heat brings timely rain by point, with our people. every effort to maintain a group of And there's no need to rack your brain, That will be the day. Judging a Responsibility not less than 15 expert and reliable judges that they can depend on year When the scientist with his microscope Full armed with mitecides can cope A field day with judging instruc­ after year. tion was held every year thereafter. With the dreaded virus and the mites, After 34 Years-We Sign Off And spare us many sleepless nights, New judges wer e called apprentices That will be the clay. and were given instruction by regu­ The closing of the Dahlia trials When no longer the scourge of a hurricane lar judges. They were required to here at East Lansing after all these Will strike yon hill or peaceful plain And dahlias will unmolested grow Four feet apart in every row, That will be the day. When the dahlias you planted so hopefully WE SEARCH TH.E FIELD ' Will grow perfectly, not awfully; When the dahlias you timed for the sho\Y Every Fall, we travel hundreds of miles to find BETTER INTRO­ Do bloom on time and not too slow, DUCTIONS to offer to our many customers. That will be the clay. When dahlia dealers can be trusted We really serve as "Messenger Boy" Before our bankroll they have busted, To accurately report the true size of a bloom to important dahlia growers on these trips. As a bride vows her faith to the groom, That will be the day. AND - the record of wins for Our Offerings is second to NONE. When all exhibitors on show day Set up their blooms without delay Write for our list. And all decisions of the judges Leave pleasantness and no grudges, DEWTHEE MOOR THAT will be the day. Lawrence Palminteri, Long I sland, N. Y . Invincible St., Rockbound Centre, N. Y.

Page 12 The A. D. S. Golden Year Dahlia Record Those 50 Years Were The Best By Sarah Wakeman Wood Charter Member A. D. S. did not have the stiff sterns our good varieties now have. His Millionaire and Billionaire were well known. The soil of his garden was sanely, much like that of the Maytrott's at Vineland, N. ]. As my dahlia garden grew, we began exhibiting at the :New Haven Horticultural Society and the A.D.S. Slow, But Sure Method of Dahlia Garden Cultivation shows in New York, at which I won many prizes. At one time, I was Our own, much loved, "Aunt" Sarah Wood describes this type of plowing dahlia growing 25,000 hills of dahlias. Also gardens in the early 1900s as follows: "My father had a gardener (I believe he had put out a dahlia catalogue and sold just lately come here from G ermany) who could not handle a team of horses, howeve r the surplus stock. Our exhibits at geritle. So father Wakeman bought this prize winning yoke of oxen at the Danbury the Danbury Fair helped out, where Fair. The oxen were used to plow and cultivate our garden for many years. This picture we took a table in the tent, and im­ was talen about 1917. We could re ally plow deep with this kind of pow.er." mediate1y replaced the current milk bottle containers with our own vases helpfullness in dahlia society work years, so that its work has gone on and baskets. is in itself rewarding." to success. I am most grateful that ;,Many of the pioneers who helped I have played a small part in its For our dahlia exhibits, I selected, get the A. D . S. operatin g in the progress. And I acknowledge that In September, 1915, my cousin, and got the Aowers ready, but my formation years to h elp all dahlia the American Dahlia Society has who was growing dahlias and knew husband, ] ohn Bulkely \ i\T ood, was growers everywhere, have gone to clone much to make my li fe happier about the proposed Show in New the one who always made the ar­ their rewards. But its official ranks and my garden more interesting." York City, at the National History rangeme·nts for me. Mr. Wood never have been ably filled in the later -S.W.W. Museum, asked me to go with her, did any gardening, as he had his own as she had never been to the " City." business, but he loved to take me At that time, I was growing choice to the shows, and fix my Aowers. perenials in my garden, and did not Since his death, in 1947, I have made know anything about dahlias and only one local exhibi t. was not in the least interested in In the early clays, I raised my own them. When we reached the Mu­ dahlias and my Southport Pride and seum, we were assigned to a table Yankee King, clecoratives, both re­ on which to work. Near by were C. ceived A . D. S. Certificates of Merit Louis Alling of West Haven, Conn., at the Storrs Trial Gardens. Some and Harold Cottam, of Wappengers of my later seedlings have been Falls, N. Y. Both of these men were Pequot, yellow single; Woodland to become Presidents of the Ameri­ Peach, S. C.; Woodland Nymph, can Dahlia Society later. Cactus; Peggy Lindley, Min. Dec.; Finally, as it turned out, I had Mariette Randal, A. I. D.; Little to help arrange the dahlias and put Playmate, :.1in. BB and Red Favor­ them in their proper classes. We did ite,, Min. Dec. I never succeeded in win several prizes with them. Then, getting a good porn seedling. The• we had a meeting of the Society orange miniature, Peggy Lindley, which I believe had been started the was first shown in my display at previous April by George Fraser of the 1939 \Vorld's Fair. Willimantic, Conn., and others, at However, now it is no longer pos­ which I joined a nd became a Char­ sible to get garden help, so I have ter member. been obliged to cut clown my plant­ IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS-AT HOTEL PENN The next year, in 1916, I started ing to about 1000 hills, as I have This is to remind old timers of the "Gold en Days" of the big A. D. S. shows staged in buying dahlias and have been grow­ only one gardener. I try to get and the immense ball room at the Pennsylvania. This main ball room was hardly roomy in g them ever since. I think the high­ grow a few of the best new varieties, enough to accommodate all the entries. It was filled with blooms and visitors. Perhaps, est priced varieties have been for in all the different types, for dis­ if you a re at least 'three score and t e n,' you can recall these halcyon days. Possibly me, Jersey Beauty, $25 per root; play. too, you may recognize some of the judges 'doing' the basket class at lower left. Mrs. I. der Ver Warner, also $25, F ive years ago, our Connecticut Lulu Pattie, $20 : and this year the Dahlia Society was started with new Jody Gregory, also $20. R ichard shows in Waterbury, Elizabeth Park, Vincent, Jr., of Maryland, was elect­ Hartford, and this year, the show YOUR GARDEN MAY BE ed the first President of the new was held on Aug. 29th and 39th in society. He was a very interesting our own town, at the Roger Ludlow WORTHY OF THE BEST man and I enjoyed my many talks High School, Fairfield, Conn. with him. "Now that our Connecticut So­ But Are You? Many of the exhibitors at the first ciety has had such a fine 'second A. D. S. show, were New Yark flor­ start,' I am hopeful that it is well W e cater to the Discriminating Gardeners who know how ists. One of them showed a bridal represented here at the A. D . S. 50th boquet of white miniature decorative, Anniversary celebration and show at to get the same collosal size (as we do) from B sizes. called Corona, one of Willmore's, the New Yorker Hotel now in pro­ If you lack the NTH degree of "Super Dahlia" culture out in 1910. gress. Many members of the A . D. S. knowh ow - we are sorry, BUT our "Giants" are not for you. At a nearby hotel, we had a suite have given our society good sup­ It takes more than Nitrogen. with Mrs. Chapman, of VV esterly, port and have come to our shows R. I., and she had · entered a large and helped in the judging. It seems But send for our Catalogue, anyway. exhibit of her Newport, a single. J that 'tum-about-and-fair-play' has Time you learned how to stretch 'em. still have her Newport Wonder, and always been a part of the A. D . S. the Corona in my garden. George program for half a century. The fact Stillman, of Westerly, was also an that over sixty societies have be­ PENNYWISE GARDENS exhibitor and for years we visited come associated with it and look to his garden on the Watch Hill Road . it for leadership is a pretty good STANLEYHAM, PENN. His dahlias were very colorful, but assurance that the practice of the

September 18-20, 1964 Page 13 For years I was privileged to ing uniform judging skills of very Ramblings of an Ex-Trial Gardener know the late Charles Garrity as one high calibre. The Southwest Con­ of my best friends. In my opinion, ference knows Larry Sisk of San By R. E. Harter the City of San Leandro should Diego as a leading judge, indispensi­ erect a monument to his memory ble sparkplug, parliamentarian, hard because of his generous gifts of worker, and all around good egg. dahlias and other flowers and serv­ And Many More ices in the city, which were a major factor in San Leandro becoming If space would permit, we could known as "The City of Flowers." go on and on listing the names of Because of his many years as people we have known over many Editor of the Central States Bulle­ years who have contributed much of tin, practically every dahlia grower their time and effort just for the everywhere knows our good friend satisfaction of services rendered to Garnett Huey. Grace and I have the A. D. S. and their local societies. known the gracious hospitality of It would not be possible for Grace visiting in the home of Garnett and and me to measure the satisfaction Hallie Huey. that has come to us through our many associations with dahlia people The San Francisco Folwer Show and with the A. D. S. So, to all would never have become one of our dahlia friends we would like to the most beautiful flower shows in say-thanks for the memories, and the country but for the efforts of thanks to al! the officers and mem­ "GRACE" AND "PETE" HARTER AT DAHLIADEL Glenn Mack and the Dahlia Society bers of the American Dahlia So­ of California. ciety who have piloted us through The Harters made a fl ight to eastern dahlia shows in 1957 and visited t he Ed itor Through the personal efforts of the first SO years so well. It would and Mrs. Dudley in New Rochelle. Trips were made to many gardens in th e east. Madge Kershisnik and Bob Pyle and be very interesting to stick around One su ch took us to Vineland , N. J. to visit the Maytrotts. Picture shows the their comprehensive sch0ols of judg­ for another half century and see how Harters with Warren Maytrott between them, standing at the end of t he bOO ing, the Northwest and Southwest well the next generations compare foot 'walk in' cold frame where plants a re 'ha rdened off.' Conference groups have moved very with the past ones.-R. E . "Pete" rapidly in recent years in develop- Harter. To begin with, we would like to the H. T. signature, but he was in express our deep appreciation to two the Bay area at the time. great men of the A. D. S., Lynn It is unlikely that I would now be Dudley and Ed Lloyd for their un­ teaching a course in gardening at tiring efforts in bringing us this Contra Costa College here, if it had most beautiful Golden Anniversary not been for my connection with the Souvenir Edition of the American Trial Gardens and Display Gardens Dahlia Society. We members will be in Lakeside Park in Oakland. In privileged to each have a copy as this connection, Ed Lloyd recently a momenta to remind us of our conferred the Degree of D.D.T. on many pleasant associations, as well me-by mail? as a progress report on the first SO years of the A. D. S. Several years ago when our son John was in the American Consulate What the A. D. S. means to my in South Africa he visited the dahlia wife, Grace, and me personally, is show there and met and later mar­ not just to keep us informed on ried a wonderful daughter of one of dahlias, which it has always done ·the principal exhibitors. so effectively; but, and this seems more important, it has brought us Another son, Dave, walking by the so many cherished friendships and gardens of Mr. and Mrs. A. T. OAKLAND TRIAL GARDEN ATTRACTS VISITORS Barnes in Bedford, England, while associations with people of kindred This is on e of the most sp.ectacular pictures ever taken of an A. D. S. Trial Garden. spirits. he was in the Air Force during W.W. 2. He was invited into their The scene was Lakesid,e Park, Oakland , Calif. taken in 1957. Besides the new varieties My first introduction to dahlias home for tea and a visit and this on trial, there was a planting of some 8000 nam.ed varieties. Peter Harter was super­ was through a friendly gesture. I incident started many years of cor­ inte.ndent for the East Bay Dahlia Society at the time,-Photo, courtesy of the Lakeside was in bed with the 'flu, and a man respondence between Mr. and Mrs. Park Department. I hardly knew brought me a bouquet Barnes and ourselves. As most of us of large purple and yellow dahlias. know, both Mr. and Mr . Barnes are The effect of such huge flowers in among the leading writers on dahlias complimentary colors simply "sent" and exhibitors of dahlias of our time. me. I immediately became infected with dahlia trouble, so forthwith We Find Dahlias In N. M. ordered a Dahliadel catalog and Some years ago, while passing by soon thereafter joined the A. D. S. the Governor's Mansion in Santa advertise new introducHons of other growers two years m ad­ and bought W. H. Waite's book on Fe, New Mexico, we noticed that the vance, even before they decide to put them on the market. I read dahlias. grounds were filled with a very fine A. D . S. T rial Gardens collection of dahlias. Upon telling their minds. the man on the other side of the Then, through working in two dif­ high fence that we also grew dahlias, ferent trial gardens, one of which we were invited into the gardens to YOU HAVE HEARD OF "FUTURES"? was very short lived, we became pen see the flowers and visit and talk pals or personally acquainted with about-guess what? literally hundreds of people who sent Say in Allied Oil? Well, just see me about "FUTURES" in Allied The Maytrotts and Others their seedlings for trial or visited Dahli.as. I may not "deliver" either - but see me after dark in the trial gardens. One of our When Lt. Elsie Maytrott was visitors at Lakeside Park was the married to Bill Greenhalgh at the some night. Secretary of Agriculture of India. Presidio in San Francisco a few Once, when looking through the years ago, I had the honor of giving guest book at Lakeside Park, we her away in marriage in the absence ALFRED PARALELL noticed the signature - Harry Tru­ of her parents, Warren and Aileen man, and opposite this signature in Maytrott. Incidentally, there are no Bronx 699999, N. Y. column for "Comments" was "Dem­ finer people on this earth than the ocrat." We were not sure it was Maytrotts.

Page 14 The A. D. S. Golden Year Dahlia Record Dahlias By Si Tanhouser, Long Island Poet Laureate (1933} Of all the floral riot in the garden I like best. \lv'hen evening shadows lengthen And the sun flames down the west, To spend an idle hour Where dahlias lift their plumes And glory in the gorgeousness Of their majestic blooms. The peach tree flouts her robes of pink, The iris lifts her head, The sweet pea climbs the \\"illo\\" whisp In purple, white and red, The lady slipper in the shade Is dripped with dew-but where Are flowers that in splendor With the dahlias can compare? The gladiolus' flaming spear I cherish and I prize; The columbine, the mignonette, The rose of paradise; Mr. Bert Pitt, Chairman of A. D.S. Trial Garden Operations, The honeysuckle drifts its golden petals is a bachelor, address 9730 123rd St., Richmond Hill. N. Y. From above; But the flaring, blazing dahlia Is my first and only love. Serene and vivid, solid, splashed, So vital and intense, of the merits, or faults, of each vari­ The dahlias in my garden The Trial Gardens ety. At the end of the season these Grow along the picket fence ; Of all the blooms that riot there By Bert Pitt, Chairman scores are collected and an average In robes of splendor dressed, score taken for each variety. This The stately, flaming dahlias The eight official Trial Gardens average score is the official score Are the flowers I like best. are intended primarily to evaluate given to each variety at each Trial Editor's note: The above poem was one of some of forty-six the merits of new varieties before Garden. Those varieties which re­ poems written about flowers and published in 1933 in a copyrighted ceive an average score of 85 or more book by George Flatow. This dahlia poem was published, by per­ they are offered for sale, and to give mission of the author and the publisher, in the A. D. S. Bulletin in recognition, through the awards points are awarded an American May, 1934. It s here re-published for the second time by this editor. made, and through publicity, to va­ Dahlia Society Certificate of Merit -L.B. D. rieties of superior quality. In doing from the Trial Garden where the this, they also perform a secondary score was made. service. Growing seedlings is one of But this is not the end. Each Trial the most fascinating aspects of dahlia Garden Director sends his report to A Horse on Him! Etc. see in the full moonlight, a neigh­ culture, and many growers with only the Chairman of the A. D. S. Trial bor's horse in the middle of the limited space grow a few. Such a Gardens Committee where a report By B. S. Chambers plan ting. Still carrying the tether chain, the end of which had become grower does not want to use much is compiled showing the scores of all Speaking of livestock, Carlton lodged somehow, the horse was run­ needed space to grow seedling varie­ of the winning varieties at all of the Richter and Henry White of Port­ ning in circles, the chain cropping off ties which are not needed, and so he Trial Gardens together with a brief land may not be too sympathetic. the dahlias at ground level. Carlton sends them to a Trial Garden. Then description of each for publication Carlton tells of a planting at pinch­ never pinches out that close, but if they are awarded a Certificate of in the November issue of the A. D.S. ing out height which suffered during wonder of wonders, nearly a!J sent Merit, he can use his limited space to BULLETIN. a commoation in the night. Awak­ up new strong shoots and as usual, ened by a dragging, brushing sound build up stock for introduction later. Th e Supreme Award Richter had as fine blooms as anyone lVIost varieties which are awarded a in the dahlia patch he rushed out to at showtime. Certificate of Merit are offered for '!\Then a variety has been awarded a Certificate of Merit in three or sale the following season, but, fre­ more Trial Gardens, these Trial quently enough, we get one which has to be held back in order to build Garden scores are averaged using up sufficient stock for introduction. the three highest scores. These final scores are used in determining the Eight Gardens - Coast to Coast winners of the Derrill Hart Memo­ The eight Trial Gardens are lo­ rial Medal Awards. Four such awards cated in dahlia growing areas from are made, one in each of the four coast to coast, and are sponsored by classes recognized by the American local dahlia societies operating un­ Dahlia Society. So the Derrill Hart der uniform rules in accordance with winners may be considered to be the a written agreement with the Ameri­ best of the best, and because they can Dahlia Society. AU are in public have done well in a variety of soils gardens open to anyone. The Ameri­ and climates, may be reasonably ex­ can Dahlia Society sets the standards pected to do well wherever dahlias and provides score cards for judging can be successfully grown. purposes. The judging is done by We take pardonable pride in our teams of Senior Judges provided by Trial Gardens, and in the men and the local sponsoring society, and are women of our Associated Societies THE JUDGES LOOK AT "SKYROCKET" accredited by the American Dahlia who give generously of their time Th e N.ew York Times took this picture of four judges at the A. D. S. show at Hotel Society. The judges visit the Trial and energy, and sometimes money, Pennsylvania in 1946. From left: Conrad Frey, in charge for many years of Judging at Gardens throughout the blooming to make them a success for the bene­ this, and many other shows in the area; Warren Maytrott, who is now recovering from a long illness at his home in Vineland, N. J .; Lynn Dudley, and Charles Diff.en derffer, season, and score their impressions fit of all. of Baltimore, for many years in charge of A. D. S. Classificatio ns.

September 18-20, 1964 Page 15 outstanding accomplishments of the Participating society staging a show, American Dahlia Society during the filled a real need when the American thirty-one years of my membership? Home magazine discontinued the First and foremost I would put the awarding of its American Home publication of the A. D. S. Bulletin. Achievement medals. Under the able editorship of Lynn Research B. Dudley, Gordon Waaser, and Ed The sponsorship of its dahlia re­ Lloyd a very high standard of ex­ search project may prove to be one cellence has been maintained. Sec­ of the greatest of the society's accom­ ondly, I would put sponsorship of plishments. It certainly will if out the trial gardens which provides the of it is devised a simpler test for best method yet devised for testing detecting dahlia viruses and mosaic the worth of undisseminated dahlias so that the dahlia grower can do prior to introduction. In 1949 the rogueing at a time before insects A. D. S. joined with the Central have spread disease to healthy plants. States Dahlia Society in sponsoring the first uniform Classification to A Regional Show 7 receive nationwide acceptance. This Great as has been the progress was of invaluable assistance in end­ made there is one further forward ing the worst aspect of the chaotic step which should be taken by the confusion that had often existed A. D. S. This is to make its annual prior to that in exhibiting and judg­ show a truly national show and not ing of dahlias. Another notable ad­ a regional show as is now the case. vance in this field was the publica­ One possible solution would be to tion by A. D.S. in 1953 of the Judg­ divide the country into four regions ing Manual authored by the late Dr. and rotate the annual show so it is Ward H. Cook. Two years ago the held once every four years in one of sound step was undertaken of ac­ such regions. The Mid-West Dahlia credited dahlia judges. The initia­ Conference has had remarkable suc­ tion of the A. D. S. Seedling Sweep­ cess over a thirty-year period in ro­ stakes awards, some years ago, which tating the location of the Mid-West The many friends of George Currie of Madison, Wisconsin will be pleased to are available to any Affiliated or show. learn that in January 1964 Mr. Currie became Chief Justic.e of the Supreme Court of the State of Wisconsin. Congratulations are certainly in order. Judige Currie has been growing dahlias as a hobby since 1933. During these y.ears he has not only been a kee,n competitor in various dahlia shows every year but is also recogni~ed as a most capable dahlia judge. At the different shows of the mid-west area Mr. Currie is usually on the team that judges seedlings and the special classes. Honesty Is The Best Policy Besides tending his own garden Justice Currie sup,ervises an official American Dahlia Society Trial Garden sponsored through the cooperative efforts of the Badger State Dahlia Society and th.e Park Board of the City of Madison. In Regard To Dahlia Diseases Mrs. Mac E. Freudenberg, Madison, Wis. By Dr. Frederick Knocke Chairman A. D. S. Research Program Great Contributions On When I started growing dahlias 37 To discover these carrier cases, Dr. years ago, they suffered from "stunt," Varney of Rutgers University depart­ and "poor growing conditions," and ment of Plant Pathology, is working Behalf Of The Dahlia insect damage. But mostly they on a serological test, which, it is By George R. Currie, showed the same symptoms of mot­ hoped, will be diagnostic of the pres­ tled leaves and weak growth that we ence of mosaic virus in dahlia tissue. Chief Justice Supreme Court, State of Wisconsin now diagnose as virus diseases-mo­ If this test can be perfected, then an My own contact with the Ameri­ debted to both for their great contri­ saic and spotted wilt. The knowl­ additional tool will be available to can Dahlia Society goes back to 1933 butions in behalf of the dahlia. edge of which specific viruses cause guarantee disease free propagating when I first became a member. War­ In 1935 I visited the Mid-West what symptoms has been gradually stock. ren W. Maytrott was then president Trial Garden at East Lansing for worked out. The insect vectors which Other methods are already avail­ and Lynn B. Dudley editor of the the first time and met its superin­ transmit the diseases are known. But able to detect the presence of virus A. D. S. Bulletin. In my youthful tendent and guiding genius, Dr. Wil­ we still have a long way to go to rid enthusiasm for my new found hobby in dahlias; such as, demonstrating don. On the same trip I attended our gardens of diseased plants. inclusion bodies (small dark gran­ of dahlia raising, I eagerly looked my first Mid-West show at Cleveland, It is necessary to be completely ules) on microscopic examination of forward from one quarter to the whose fifteen fine commercial dis­ honest, and to admit that slightly stained plant cells; also by innoculat­ next for the coming of each new plays have never come close to being ing index plants, which are known issue of the Bulletin. At the 1933 equaled at any subsequent dahlia mottled foliage, perhaps just a little Century of Progress dahlia show in show visited. Then in 1939 I saw my lightening of color along the veins, to be susceptible to the virus, with Chicago one of my friends pointed first A. D.S. show in New York, and means that the plant is diseased. Sec­ tissue fluids from the plant to be Mr. Maytrott out to me, but I did through the courtesy of Dr. Bruce ond, we must be ruthless, and de­ tested, the presence of the disease is not personally meet him until three Preas and Dewey Mohr was taken on stroy all plants about which there is confirmed. years later at the Detroit A. D. S. a memorable day-long tour of dahlia any question, regardless of how rare These tests may be time consum­ show when I clerked for the judging gardens on Long Island. A few days or expensive the stock may be. team of which he was a member. ing and expensive to do, but we later I visited the famed A. D. S. Even if the above measures are must be willing to expend the extra The day before that 1936 show I also Dahlia Trial Garden at Storrs, Con­ taken, it is frequently not possible effort to guarantee disease free stock had the pleasure of meeting Mr. necticut, and was shown about by to have a completely disease free with reasonable certainty. If diseased Dudley at the dahlia gardens of Nick Professor Roland Patch, its superin­ planting. Some varieties are very tol­ stock continues to be distributed, Koenig at New Baltimore, Michigan. tendent. Over the years I have come to know erant of virus infection, grow well, growers will be discouraged by poor both of these gentlemen as friends, The Bulletin - The Trial Gardens and show little or no signs of disease results, and the popularity of our and the dahlia world is deeply in- In retrospocet, what have been the in spite of infection. hobby will certainly suffer.

Page 16 The A. D. S. Golden Year Dahlia Record Score Cards Now Included It will be our endeavor to carry The current Cl::issification List on the job they have so efficiently ac­ Classification Of Dahlias contains the two A. D. S. Official complished since the middle 1940's. By Stanley Johnson Score Cards, with explicit explana­ Two Societies Join Efforts tion as to their use. The Field Card Chairman A. D. S. Committee In 1948 a Joint Classification Com­ is u sed in judging new varieties in mittee meeting was held, in Milwau­ expeditiously evaluate every exhibit. the eight A. D. S. Trial Gardens. kee, Wis., between representatives of Because of this, all en tries will re­ The Bench Score Card is used in the A. D. S. and the Central States ceive proper recognition. YCuch of judging seedlings in the A. D. S. Dahlia Societies. It was agreed there the confusion and dissatisfaction Seedling Sweepstakes which compe­ that the two societies would publish which occurred in the earlier exhi­ tition is used by associated societies an annual Joint Classification List. bitions is gone from modern shows. in over 60 shows each fall. Let us go back, for a moment, to This began the friendly relationship the early days, when the dahli a was We Salute between the A. D. S. and the Mid­ classified in four or five form types, The two societies owe much to west group. :\fr. H arold L. Cum­ with only a few basic colors named. members who have served on the mings, of Chicago, who was one of It was in 1920 that the American J oint Committee through the years. the original C. D.S. committee mem­ Dahlia Society decided that there Thanks should be given to these: bers, h as served for over ten years, should be an official size division of J. Louis Roberts, Mrs. H. S. Blum, either as Chairman or Secretary of dahlias. Also a more complete no­ Henry A. Olsen, Dr. C. H. Rike, the Joint Committee. The same for­ menclature listing all current varie­ Hon. George R. Currie, Dr. Bruce mat, with a changing personnel, is ties. This was considered n ecessary Preas, Andrew J. Mulcahy, Edward in use today. to assist all dahlia growers and intro­ J. Schampel, Paul Hale, Stanley G. Mr. Charles M. Diffenderffer of ducers with listing of definite forma­ Swanson, Bernard L. "\!\!right", Dr. Baltimore, Md., was appointed late tion and type classification. William Van Horn, the late Fred L. in 1957 to be A. D. S. Chairman of Trauth and many other true friends The A. D. S. Committee which this committee. H e only just retired was appointed to accomplish this was of the dahlia. from this post in 1963 with honors. composed of Messrs. Derrill W . Hart, It is my privilege to submit here­ They have spent untold hours of H e was presented with an A. D. S. Warren Maytrott, Edward Lloyd, with a sort of progress report on their valuable time, and paid their George W . Fraser and Lynn B. Dud­ Plaque and made Honorary Chair­ A. D. S. Classification. In this con­ travel expenses to the meetings over ley. Their recommendations were man. Mr. Diffenderffer had served nection it is not what you can do the years to keep alive the list of adopted immediately. Only a few the A. D. S. most diligently in pre­ for the American Dahlia Society, but current dahlia varieties with proper basic changes in Classification pro­ vious years in other capacities, be­ rather what it has done for you, the descriptions. Every dahlia grower, cedures since then. fore assuming the responsibilities of exhibitors and judges a t the many every introducer, every judge all over the Classification Committee head. shows h eld annually every fall across Today's Size, Typ.e, Colors Defined America, have benefited from their America. We now have four size groups and labors and fidelity to this important In 1958 he was given the society's work. highes t award, its Gold Medal. Today all our current, modern fifteen Formation or Type classifica­ type exhibition dahlias are classified tions. Each of these is clearly defined as to size, type and color in the joint in the List. The next forward step list. This did not just happen-it was by the A. D. S. was the classification the culmination of years of study and and description of all colors, shades, practice by members of the A. D. S., tints and combinations of them, and the Central States Dahlia So­ known to be found in the cultivated ciety. The result gives the exhibitor form of dahlias. all the information required to enter Mr. W arren Maytrott and the late any dahlia in its proper class. Dr. Ward H . Cook presented a com­ bined report on Color Divisions to Purposes of Classification the A. D. S. Executive Board in 1937. This classification of today's dahl­ It was accepted with but few changes. ias enables the judges to fairly and As a result, the A. D. S. has dahlias grouped into fourteen color classes. The D ahliadel Color Chart, based on the Royal Color Chart of Britain, WHY BUY THE was made the official A. D. S. Chart in 1948. It is considered the Stand­ NEW ONES? ard Color Chart Guide to determine the color of the current list of va­ When We Sell All the rieties. Old Ones? The First A. D. S. List An A. D. S. Official Classification You know, as well as we, that of dahlia varieties was first printed the (Claims?) made that the a nd released for the year 1942, by New Introductions will Beat Dr. Ward H. Cook, Chairman of the Anything on the Tables is just. Committee. This publication defined "Windbagging." size, type, form and color. It also We have accumulated a lot of contained an alphabetical listing of Surplus of the Old Babies which named dahlias appearing on show PRESENTING AMERICAN HOME ACHIEVEMENT always win and we have to un­ tables in America. Martin Guttier, of Huntington, N. Y., a master grower and• frequent winner of top load them. Might as well be you. Dr. Edward F. McDade of Scran­ awards, won an American Home Achievement Medal in 1948 with the new variety, Name one or a dozen- we got 'em. ton, Pa., became chairman of the NEW LOOK. Here E. L. D. Seymour, Hort. Ed itor of that publication, presents Mr. Classification Committee in 1947 and Write for List Guttier with the medal. The A. D. S. officials who assisted in the· ceremony in the carried on in that capacity until picture were, from left: Gordon Waaser, then Editor of the A. D. S. Bulletin; Mr. 1957. The A. D.S. honored Dr. Mc­ Guttier, Mr. Seymour. Top row, left, Andrew Mulcahy, Chairman of Judging; Dewey GAMBLE GARDENS Dade in 1954 with its gold medal for Mohr, Chairman Entertainment & Finance of the 50th Anniversary and Lynn Dudl.ey. Wildwood, N. J. the services rendered by him in this (This award was made yearly for over 40 years to new Dahlia Varieties. It was the connection. forerunner of the A. D. S. Achiev,e ment Awards.)

September 18-20, 1964 Page 17 Reflections On The Fifty Years Satan Goes to Japan By Joseph Lane, First A. D. S. Secretary C. W. Ballay, Originator of Satan, It was enthusiasm, rather than October 15th. This was, as I look money or numbers, which got the back on it, quite an achievement for Finds this Old Photo American Dahlia Society started in any horticulture group, and I have C. W. Ballay, one of the pioneer 1915. I can't go along with some been connected with many of them commercial dahlia growers in Cali­ who claim that there were visions of in my lifetime of calling on horticul­ fornia, has originated many fine a great National Dahlia Society right ture men and organizations. dahlias over the past half century. from the start. We had trouble even In spite of tight money, we had He was a contemporary of Jessie keeping going locally in New York $325.00 for premiums and over Seal, Bessie Boston, J. J. Broomall, right in the middle of a National $100.00 for medals as well as other Alice Musserdorffer, and other great depression. prizes for the winners. And, believe dahlia introducers back in the early The complexion of the times in it or not, we had about $200.00 left l 900's. which the society was born, was in the treasury. Generous contribu­ He was first located at Los Altos evidenced by the editorial in the tions by our determined officers made The Saga of C. Merrill Brown and later he bought a place on El Florists Exchange, in 1915, entitled this possible. By "Bob" Connal, Rochester Camino Real in Palo Alto. (The "The Prospects Ahead." In part, it Editor visited him in Palo Alto in Among the stalwart members and said: "Early in August last, when C. Merrill Brown, a professor of 1956.) He not only originated many officers who made this first show of projected enterprises collapsed with Chemistry at the University of Buf­ dahlias which were very popular, but the society successful were, besides many an audible thud, and even the falo for many years, resided in Wil­ also introduced many which were our president: George Fraser, Prof. major portion of established indus­ liamsville, N. Y. "Bus" as his inti­ originated by John Gaylord and J. B. Norton, James Duthie, George mate friends called him, fell in love tries were shaken to the core. Work other growers. Stillman, Louis Alling, William with Dahlias about 1925, and over ceased entirely with some, but with Rathgeber, J. Harrison Dick, Ed­ succeeding years, became one of the Some of the remembered outstand­ most there was every portent of a ward C. Vick (the latter two followed most widely known dahlia-growers ing varieties which Mr. Ballay intro­ real panic." me as Editor of the Bulletin), Leon­ and judges of his time. He loved to duced in the middle 1950's were: "Economic disaster to the nation ard Barron, W.W. Wilmore (of Den­ show his dahlias, and would seldom SHOWBOAT, A-F.D.; TORCH, A-St. was averted through the emergency ver), George W. Kerr, I. S. Hendrick­ visit a Show without calling on one C., red, yellow; GAYLORD SPECIAL, A or more growers enroute to, from, or measures taken by strong financial son, P. W. Popp, Prof. F. H . Hall, -1.D., Pink; SEQUOIA, A-1.D., Yel­ locally situated, to view his, or her interests. Dull times succeeded, how­ James Kirby, Warren Maytrott, L. low; LAs LAURELES, A-S.C., Pink; garden. This was one reason for and YosEMITE, A-I .D. (The editor ever, after the first crushing realiza­ K. Peacock, F. R. Austin, Mrs. Sarah his wide personal acquaintance with is still growing that grand big white tion of what the great clash of arms Wood, and Mrs. C. H. Stout. Most dahlia people. Not infrequently, he in the recent World War and the of these have passed on except Mrs. would allocate some of his late sum­ formal, SHOWBOAT, and grew SE­ loss of vast material and millions of Wood, Geroge Fraser, Lou Alling, mer vacation time after summer QUOIA in his last garden in New Ro­ men had meant to the entire world." Warren Maytrott and myself. school closed, calling on growers in chelle in 1961. It was early in this momentous the East, or Mid-West and even in About 1933, Mr. Gaylord intro­ It was from this group that the year that I was assigned to sell gar­ Canada. Many close to him mar­ duced the old time favorite and per­ judges for the first show were chosen. den advertising in the old Garden velled how, with his many profes­ ennial winner, SATAN, the big red We were honored by the presence sional duties, he found time for the Magazine and Country Life. The Semi-Cactus. Sent all over the world, at the show of Mrs. Gertrude Dahl very extensive correspondence he late Leonard Barron and E. L. D. one of the p lants went to Japan, Mordecai, of South Carolina, a de­ carried on, but from such he derived (Ned) Seymour were my associates. where it attracted great attention. scendant of the great Swedish bot­ much satisfaction. Older readers of Both of these men were to distin­ In March of this year, Mr. Gaylord, anist after whom the dahlia was publications like "The Bulletin" or guish themselves in Horticulture and who still lives in Palo Alto, but has named, by Father Cavanilles in Ma­ "The Dahlia" and others,, will re­ dahlias before their careers ended. retired from the dahlia commercial drid, about 1797. member his periodic articles, another way in which he became known to end, sent us the above picture of But the depression never seemed I will not attempt to name any of dahlia people. SATAN with a young J apanese maid­ to daunt the pioneers of the A. D. S. the varieties which won at this first en taken in Sapporo City. Our President Richard Vincent, Jr., Several new introductions, starting A. D. S. show, as I am informed that for the first fifteen years was himself with Kirsten Flagstad kept his name The growers were Yoshida Dahlia there is such a list of current (1915) a powerhouse of energy and ideas. in the catalogs during the last decade Gardens. There was only this one dahlias on another page of this of his life. Imperial and Ambrosia Between the preliminary meeting bloom on the p lant and it measured "Golden Year Dahlia R ecord." But were his last two contributions. Ex­ which Mr. Vincent arranged and our 14 inches in diameter. Naturally it this I know, the crowds of people, cepting War-paint, these and Cymbie first show, or just after it, we suc­ created a sensation as shown in the some said over 25,000 of them, (after his initials, C. M. B.), Vision, ceeded in getting nearly 200 mem­ Hokkaido Annual Dahlia Show. It proved to be very interested, and Tiara, and Spectacular are still in bers. That was between May 10 and was the largest bloom in the show many were busy making lists of the commerce. His main seedling inter­ est was the "A" size. and won the highest award. That dahlias they wanted to grow. was in 1934. Oh yes, the girl, now At the time of his untimely death probably a grandmother, was Minako The fifty years of continued en­ (in his garden), he had several others Our Dahlias Score! thusiasm and unselfish work by the undergoing trial, and he was almost Yoshida, daughter of Mr. Yoshida. men and women who followed the hyper-critical, when it came to the The A.D.S. helps us bring pioneers has been unique, in my point of launching one. you BETTER DAHLIAS - by opinion. Through these 50 years my Awarding Certificates of Merit Merrill was for many years a Vice­ connection with horticultural socie­ President of the American Dahlia to most of those we grow. ties, firms and people, I have attend­ Society, and a sought after judge. Our name on the tag bewitches the ed many flower shows and conven­ He knew· his dahlias, so to speak, judges-Result-Many, Many Awards. tions. Few, if any, of the many flower and had personally inrtoduced many societies have had a half century of foreign varieties to American com­ Ray Webb.er lists them on his success comparable to that of this merce. In his garden on·e would see Pre-view, too, because we name society. the best of American introductions them after him and his. of recent release, some of the best of I know I will be happy to see the older ones, his own introductions, ALDE R S HOT again the old friends and associates and some adjudged as "tops," from of by-gone days at this Anniversary acquaintances overseas. DAHLIA FARM Celebration. See you tonight, the In 1955 the Rochester Dahlia So­ Bowieknife, Md. 19th of September 1964. Gosh, how ciety honored him with its Medal for time flies! his personal inspiration and help.

Page 18 The A. D. S. Golden Year Dahlia Record a ro und the pla nts about them w ell Good Dahlias and How to Grow Them cultivated and moi·st, to provide By J. Louis Roberts, ( 1943) ample food, and it should be stated that dahlias do take more fertilizer As published in the " Home Garden" than m ost flow ers. This is because (The late J . L ouis R o berts was a grower and breeder of dahlias and the pla nt has to make the new pla nt, one who was intere·sted in helping others to get the same satisfaction while, at the same time it is storing from a dahlia garden which he did. He was a uthor of the book, " Modern up reserve of r enewal food in the D ahlias," published in 1938. And, on occasion, he wrote articles about roots fo r the next season's planting. dahlia culture. This is the only article on culture in this " RECORD." The fe rtilizers can be of organic or W e publish it in the abbrevia ted fo rm, omitting lists of the then current chemical origin. Good cow ma nure varieties which he recommended to his reader s. L. B. D.) or a balanced commercial fertilizer of 5-10-5 formula are most often (loose) so il, th ey can be set in a hole used. The 5-10-5 is com posed of 5 abo ut five to six in ches deep, with parts of N itrogen, 10 parts of Phos­ soil loosened at bottom. When grow­ pha te and 5 pa rts of Potash. Growers ing pla nts, (from shoot s sta rted in who wi sh to 'push' the plant to pro­ the greenhouse- in early spring), the duce very large bloom s fo r exhi­ ball of roots w ith plant above is bition, fee d o ft ener a nd use m ore placed 2 to 3 in ches below the sur­ nitrogen, but this is not for begin­ fa ce ; pinch o ff th e lower leaves if ner s. Only experience and trial over they are yell ow o r dried. (See the years, ca n g uide this m etho d. illustratio n. ) W e might add tha t m any g row er s prefer pla nts to roots, F ertilizer should be a ppli ed as ·'top as they com e into bloom earlier tha n dressing," a nd not too close to the when planting root s. The plants stalk, but sprinkled around the plant make just as ma ny roots, or as big several in ches from it; then raked J. LOUIS ROBERTS a clump, as when roots are planted. in and wa tered. No plant fo od is available to th e dahlias unless a nd is remembered for his unfailing Staking until it is mixed with wa ter. good humor, and his devotion to Most dahlia plants hould be stak­ the hobby of dahlia growing. He Sizes and Forms ed. They should be in place before The above drawing is reproduced wrote about dahlias as well as the planting is done. The la bel, bear­ I have m entioned the different in a new drawing by Doris Pace growing and showing. He also orig- ing the nam e of the va riety is tied si zed da hlias. The America n Dahlia inated many fine varieties. to the stake. A s the pla nts grow, Society of which I have been a from the one used to illustrate the they should be ti ed firmly but no t m ember fo r many years, has o ffi c­ article. It is self explanatory. Wrote Mr. Roberts : too tig ht, so as to bend the stalk, iall y classifi ed fo urteen dahl ia fo rms. T hey a re : Sing le; Mig non ; Orchid­ to the stake. T here are " bedding tures, can be used in r ows, as a bor­ "Th e dahlia e nthu s iast, e v e n types" of dahlias, which only g rew Aowering; Anem ones ; Co ll arette ; thoug h he may be getting on in der fo r the veg etable patch, or along to about two fee t in height, which P aeony ; In curved Cactus; Straight a walk, drive or fe nce. These smaller years, wi!J never want to give up Cactus : Semi-Cactus ; F ormal D ec­ do not need s ta kes. These· a re used da hlias are usually compact and entirely the culture of his favorite ora tive ; Info rmal D ecorative; Ball ; fo r border s in la ndscaping. The fo ur ·'bushy" in growth. They produce fl ower. But the m ore he reduces the Miniature ; P ompon. These fo rm most used for this type of gardening, a n abunda nce of fl ow ers, without the number of the plants he raises, the types are di vided into fo ur siz e a re old ones, but still good fo r t his necessity of t wo much di sbuclding or more certain he will wish to be that g roups; " A., or la rge, over 8 inc hes purpose. They are " E aster Greet­ speci al care. the ones he does grow ar e the best ing"; " F r ed Springer"; Bishop of in diameter; "B" or m edium, 6 to So, fri ends, go to the next da hlia of the current ones. Therefor e he L andaff" a nd one known as the not over 8 inches ; " BB" or small show you hear or read a bout. S tudy " ·ill read all the ca talogues a nd lis ts '· J ap Bishop" which is a seedl ing of m edium, 4 to no t over 6 in ches and the varieties a nd decide w hich types availa ble to help him purchase the "Bishop of L andaff. " .. M" or sm all under 4 in ches. new s tock ~ o real da hlia enthusiast and what color s you w ould like to ever is satisfied with the· ones he Pinching Center Shoots Colors grow next year. If you know a friend g rew last season. H e also vi sits all All da hlia plan ts, recra rdless of size For the purpose of dividing the who g rows them, visit his garden. the dahlia show s possible to see th e of t he fl ower, should be "pinched m ain colo r divisions into which A sk him all about them. Even if new ones w hich win honors on the back." This is done by carefully dah li as fa ll, fo r exhibition purposes, you see a dahlia garden, a nd don't seedling tables. pinching the center shoot a t the top the Amer ican D ahlia Society and the know the g row er, you w ill be most T o those who have not yet gro wn of the pla nt, w hen several sets of Central S tates D ahlia Society, which pleasa ntly surprised to see how eas­ da hlias, it may be pointed out tha t leaves have developed. For the large issue a n a nnual joint Classifi cation il y you will become acquainted a nd this fl ow er of a thousand fo rms and dahlias, this is usually done w hen li st of som e 1600 varieties, dahlia form a new fri endship. Dahlia g row­ every color and combina tion of two or a t most, or three sets of colors a re divided into 14 classes. ing is t he g reatest breeder of firm colors, except a pure blue, is by no leaves a re showing and well develop­ In som e, color s a re mingled. friendships w hich we know of.- J. m eans restricted to the expert. Some ed. For the m edium size, usually T hese a re called Blends, either da rk L ouis R oberts. diligent care is required, its tr ue, six sets of leaves a r e left on pla nt or lig ht. T he o ffi cial col ors a re : in o rder to produce the super-bloom s w hen center is pin ched. This makes \Vhite : Yell ow; O range : Fla m e; tha t carry off blue ribbons a t the the plant spread a nd side branches Autumn·; R eel ; D a rk R ed; Pink; L a­ 1F hy Shouldn't You Grow larger da hlia shows. But any begin­ develop fas ter. With the m iniatures vendar; P urple : Lig ht Blend ! D ark ner, by foll owing a few si m ple rules and pompom s, plants can be pi nched B lend; B i-color : Variegated. COMMONSTOCK SEED of culture, which are easily obtained, back two or mo re ti mes. Dahlia Shows can provide him or her self w ith an We own our own B ee Hives. Keep the Plants Growing a bunda nce of bloom s fo r hom e and In m ost dahlia exhibitions there Our bees follow instructions and garden beautifica tion. The greatest precaution in t he are color classes within th e divisions s pread the BEST POLLEN D a hlias can• be planted in most culture of da hlias is to avoid their of fo rm cl asses. When a g rower gets where we tell them . receiving a g rowth check after they to t he point where it is importa nt sections of the country, until the We furnish our bees more middle of June. M any grower s pre­ are w ell sta r ted. Such a check to w in awards for his gardening fe r the la te planting because it whether due to neglected cultivation '. efforts, and tha t usually does not sugar. Why shouldn't we charge ~ ring s the pla nts into fl ower when lack of plant food, or dry spell s, take too long, th en he or she should you m ore for the Super Seed the weather is growing cooler. This without bein g watered, results in a s tudy show rules and try to grow they produce? hardening of the stem s and tissues. the sizes and types of the classes to is the condition they like best. Blue Cross Bee Seed, Once this occurs, it is very diffi cult be entered. In all shows there are Planting to get them g rowing w ell again, but a m ateur classes w hich even fir st year 100 Seed - 10 Buck s If one is pla nting roots from last with work a nd extra car e, it can dahlia g rowers m ay enter their y ear's garden, be careful to leave an be done. bloom s. COMMONSTOCK eye, (at the base of the old fl ow er While the large flower ed dahlias Watering and Fertilizing s tem) with each division of the a re g rown best as individual plants Dahlia Gardens clump. These roots are set out in The dahlia grow e r, th e r efor e, or bushe , ma ny of the smaller ones, Dahl iaville Beach, Calif. w e!J prepared holes. In friable, should take pains to keep the soil especiall y the pompons and minia-

September 18-20, 1964 Page 19 Let's Practice What We Preach..• (Or Vice-Versa) Presented in the form of a two act play Act One : Enter the two characters, one, a very important looking gentleman with a .Joint Classification List in one hand, and an Accredited Judges Directory in the other. This important looking gentleman could just as easily be you or me, the "experienced" dahlia growers. Character number two is a glassy eyed, breathless, drooling, potential new dahlia grower who has just had the pleasure of a conducted tour of "our" dahlia patch. First question from the glassy eyed, novice is as follows:

"How can I grow beautful dahlias sistant" foliage, stems like steel rods, like these?" long lasting blooms, heavy root "Ye gods, what a question to ask maker and she faces perfectly, pro­ one of us" ... eh boys? viding you disbranch and disbud her "The important looking gentle­ at the exact time of the growing man, (you or me) takes a deep season. She costs only $25.00 this breath, places the Joint Classifica­ year son, how many do you want? tion list and the Accredited Judges "You don't know what it means to directory in his pocket. He care­ disbud and disbranch? No trouble fully folds the list so his name is at all son, here's how it's done ... shown as a A. D. S. "senior judge" bla, bla, blab. . . You say $25.00 Paul Hale assis1ed by "Vickey" packing the Station Wagon with and says: "It's not at all difficult sounds a bit steep' Oh you could blooms to take 500 miles or more very often at show time. And dis­ grow 'cheapies' in your patch, but son." "There are a few minor details tance and travel does not keep them from winning many awards. you'll have to learn and I'll confide the new introductions, especially in you that I've been growing dahlias those that the trial ground boys You'll see them arranging blooms at the Fiftieth Show, we are sure. for over 50 years and I'm still learn­ haven't had their hands on are much ing... Let's see now, first you must more dependable. "You'll be expected to run the Juanita, Kidds Climax, Croyden have your soil analized because as (At this time the scene changes hamburger stand this time at the Masterpiece, Kelvin, Arab Queen, you know, there are three major ele­ to the novice grower who is not meeting and most members bring First Lady, Mary Elizabeth, Earl ments and seven minor or trace ele­ breathless, glassy eyed and drool­ 150 of their plants to the sale, don't Wood and Golden Heart. ... None ments in the soil and dahlias need ing any m;ore.) let it worry you if you can only of these varieties wili cost over $1.00 some of all the elements, but in dif­ He is now assuming a blank stare, bring 125, everyone knows you are each. They are "tried and true" and ferent amounts. his mouth and throat are dry and a beginner. always win their share. Let your plants grow and thrive son, spray or "Oh you don't know what the a slight twitch has appeared at the "Now you want to know when to dust with some common insecticide elements are, you don't even know left corner of his mouth. He takes cut down your plants, divide your ... keep all the buds pinched off how to take a soil sample. Well a deep breath, hesitates and blurts clumps and store the rots. Better your plants till August 15th then now, here are the elements and what out. get out your pencil and notebook select the best 6 or 7 buds and let they will do for your dahlias ... "If I grow some nice blooms again son, here goes; bla, blab, blab 'em develop. bla, bla, bla, blabla ... and this is could I bring them to the show this and bla bla ... and you store the exactly the way you take a soil sam­ fall? ... divisions in VERMECULITE." Call me up anytime, son. Better ple ... are you listening? ... bet­ yet, stop in at my place anytime, The important one (you or I) Where are you going son? What's ter make some notes ... bla, blab, you'll be welcome, ask questions, smiles and assumes a benevolent wrong anyhow . . . why are you blab, bla, do you have that all down don't be bashful, I'll answer them the look. getting in your car? (Gosh, I ust son? best way I can. Say, by the way, "Why certainly son, you'll be very don't understand, that novice grower "Now your soil is in perfect con­ why don't you ride to the show with just drove away without even say­ dition and ready to plant your dahl­ welcome, the side door is real handy me this fall. I'll set up my blooms ing "thanks"). ias and just think boy, you've only and no one will see you when you first and then help you, then we'll sneak in. Of course I'll be there and spent $38.88 on fertilizers, soil tests stroll around so you can meet some if I have the time, I'll help you make and fumigants. (We'll not count that Act Two •. or (Vice Versa) of the other growers." your show tags and classify your $150.00 rototiller all dahlia growers blooms. Now don't be disappointed Gentlemen, let's forget all the "When the shows are all over, call must have.) By the way, take my if I'm busy, so many big shots will complicated data we love to expound me up. I'll help you dig your roots word for it... "Madam Queen" will be there, pre-judging and feeling of and instead put our arm around the win all the awards at the big show and show you my way of dividing the substance of the blooms before newcomers shoulder and say softly .. this year, she's a seedling of mine, and storing. Glad to help you. Re­ judging time-(it helps them make she's a cross between Amos and "Forget or disregard all the advice member, I was a novice once, I asked up their minds while judging.) I Andrea. Boy! Is she a beauty; a these experts dish out son.... Don't questions, too. And by golly, I won never have any trouble myself, be­ heavy feeder, luxuriant "insect re- plant over SO dahlias your first year, some awards too. You say Cloth cause I like red blooms and I'll al­ 25 would be even better ... plant House son? You've never lived till ways give them preference. My gosh them in full sun, and don't worry you've owned one. Now here is son, you don't know about A size? about the soil, put a stake by each where you get the cloth and per- Johnnie Stovall Says: B size? BB size? miniatures? You plant, tie it and water it once a sonally.... I like a wooden frame don't know about Cactus, Semi-Cac­ week. Buy up some plants or roots like this . ... Scribed by Paul Hale, Two-(2) - Twin-Scores for tus, Informal and Formal shapes? of some good old dependables, Mrs. Brighton, Ill., Editor of "The Dahl­ our "Jewell" proves it is a rare "I'll be brief as possible, its a Hester A. Pape, Golden Treasure, ia"-Central States Society. heirloom. shame you don't have one of those The scores were made by the new fangled portable tape recorders, same team of Judges, at Lake­ son ... got your pencil, here goes .. . side Park, and next in the East An A size dahlia measures, blab, this understanding I went along. blab, blab, bla ... Sure you can join Dr. Cook Thumped the Stem Bay Show. At both they gave it When it came to picking the best our Dahlia Society son, I'll recom­ Several years ago, at Paterson, "A" from the four specials, two of the A.D.S. Award. mend you myself, come to our next N. J . Charles Stoeckel, Chairman of which were mine, my Croydon Mas­ If you are not growing it this meeting but let me give you a tip ... Judges, assigned me to help judge terpiece was very much in the run­ year, that's a loss to both of us. DON'T ASK AKY SILLY QUES­ the "A" blooms in Open to All. I ning, the late Dr. Cook tunked the TIONS! At the meeting the regular told Charlie that I had entries there stem up and down, hittting the Just write me Care of members will be busy arguing parlia­ and would rather not, but he in­ bottom of the stem several times and mentary rules, discussing Roberts sisted and told me that any class in said "Well it did not shed any "Mathilda" Rules of Order and they resent be­ which I had an entry I should step Sui;mp, Calif. in·g interrupted. Just sit in the back out and Dr. Cook and Jennie Mend­ feathers, so I guess we will have to

~############################### and save your questions for me later. ham would judge that class, with give it to you."-Roy Webb.

Page 20 The A. D. S. Golden Year Dahlia Record want to work hard, at any price show that the American Dahlia So­ You Should Tell Me! per hour. And men? ciety ever staged. Men today, who will work with I also hope that there will be no You, maybe, could tell me, why a their muscles, take so much time out pesky storms or hurricanes. We have guy, who has been in the dahlia busi­ to light and smoke cigarettes, for had one of those la tter things right ness for almost fifty years, should sit coffee breaks, or just "time out" in the middle of one of our A. D. S. down and philosophize? Tell me too, breaks to rest are so costly, no mat­ shows. I hope that there will be why a guy, nearly 80, should be so ter what the hourly wage is, that we many visitors to my garden in 1964. weighed down with m ultiple plan­ dahlia sellers just can't afford them. I want them to see the be·st blooms terosis that he can no longer figure Yes, my friends, it has been mostly that I , an

September 18-20, 1964 Page 21 minteri, Chairman, A. D. S. Accred­ Believe it was in 1946 at East ited Judges Committee. Liverpool, when they were host to The American Dahlia Society the Mid-West Show. Five of us were --0--- assigned to judge the seedlings, plus Accredited Judges Program pick all the specials in the show. We Roy Webb- Editor worked through till about six o'clock ( T he Merit System for Selection of Dahlia Judges) to finish the seedlings, when we Roy Webb is chairman of the A. split up and went to supper ... plan­ It has long been recognized that Two grades of judges are accred­ D. S. Seedling Sv..-eepstakes Commit­ ning to return afterwards to pick competent judges rendering impar­ ited by the American Dahlia Society, tee. He is carrying out that assign­ the specials, but only two of us re­ tial decisions, inspire confidence in regular and sen1or judges. To qualify ment to the satisfaction of all the turned, Judge Currie and I. \\' e exhibitors and contribute immeasur­ as a regular judge a candidate must nearly seventy societies associated finished the job just in time to go ably to improve the quality of a (1) be a member in good standing of with the A. D. S. Some sixty of these to the so-called banquet at a little show. Concern over the quality and a dahlia society, (2) have exhibited societies participate in this chief past 9 P.M. I never did learn where shortage of dahlia judges throughout dahlias for at least five years, (3) Seedling Show Competition each fall. the other three went, as I don't re­ the nation led to serious discussion have served as apprentice judge in But, now, Roy has taken on an­ call even seeing them at the banquet. and search for a solution. Sporadic five shows in a period not to exceed other job. He is editor of "Dilly (Names on request.) attempts to cope with these prob­ two years, and (4) have passed a Dahling" of the Greater Philadelphia -o- lems were being made on a local written examination, as noted above. Dahlia Society. And there is much At one of the A. D. S. Shows, say level and it was the feeling of these Promotion to senior judge occurs evidence in each succeding issue, that in the early 1930's, three of us were pioneers that the problem was so when a candidate demonstrates to he takes the job seriously. He is get­ assigned to judge the "A" blooms in vast that it should be tackled by the the local senior judges committee his ting a lot of people to write articles "Open to All." In those days, there American Dahlia Society. or her ability to judge seedlings. A for it. were no "one bloom" classes, but Early in 1961 A. D. S. President good seedling judge must have a The publication at present is a 24 the schedule called for three formal Bert Pitt invited all societies that wide knowledge of dahlias to be able page, 5 x 7 inch pamphlet, repro­ blooms, regardless of color, three had done some preliminary work in to recognize those characteristics in duced from typed copy. To receive in formals, etc. One of the Judges this field to submit their ideas. Presi­ it which are distinctive and superior it, one should join the Greater Phila­ was a woman, and as soon as she dent Pitt and the author of this re­ to any disseminated varieties. Cer­ delphia Dahlia Society. Dues are saw the entries in one class she port, carefully studied these sugges­ tification of a seedling by competent $2.00. You may send dues to Howard covered her face with both hands tions and added some of their own. judges protects the con·sumer and in­ R. Ralph, 409 Myrtle Avenue, Chel­ and cried "I hate Red." Needless to Together they developed a model list spires confidence in the judges. tenham, Pa. (There is no charge for say the reds were there upon award­ of Questions and Answers based on this promotion.) Roy, like most of ed the blue, I believe they "·ere Administered Locally the Judges Manual, the official score us dahlia editors, receives no pay in Murphy's Masterpiece. card and the Classification List for For practical reasons the program money, only in the satisfaction of -O- use by teachers of judges schools, is administered locally by a senior helping the cause of dahlia growing. J ust last year friend Dudley and and formulated rules for Accredita­ judges committee representing a Such devotion too, is somewhat rare. I \Yere on the five man team assigned tion of Judges. This plan was sub­ dahlia conference or a dahlia society. to judge Seedling s,,·eepstakes at mitted to the A. D. S. Executive These area committees composed of Milwaukee. One of the Judges in­ Committee which discussed it and the best judges available are respon­ sisted that the longer the stems the made helpful suggestions. Out of sible for training and examining stu­ better, using the idea that he could these deliberations the merit system dent judges and for submitting lists better use the blooms in basket work for selection of judges was born, of candidates eligible for accredita­ (possibly to weave baskets). The based on what you know, not whom tion to the A. D. S. Accredited rest of us failed to agree with him, you know. Judges Committee which issues ac­ as we liked to work along the lines outlined in Dr. Cook's Manual. which T he Plan Is Put in Operation credited regular and senior judges cards. The American Dahlia Society while perhaps not perfect, is still the Notice of the creation of an A. D . S. is responsible for policy making, best guide we have at this time. Accredited Judges Program first ap­ such as enactment of the rules for -o- peared in the May, 1961 issue of the accreditation. It assists societies in Perhaps my greatest thrill as an Bulletin while our then editor, Lynn organizing schools for judges, sup­ Mr. and Mrs. Roy Webb of Scran­ exhibitor was the year that Eddie Dudley, was still on the job. The plying them with free copies of a ton were quests of honor at the O'Keefe came up to me ,,·hile I was primary aim of the program is to model list of Questions and Answers Ohio Dahlia Society Founder's judging in one of the Amateur sec­ standardize and thus improve the based on the Manual, score card, and Day ceremonies, July 21st, 1963, tions and extended his hand and judging of dahlias. Standardization Classification List. (Copies of the at the Jerry Kovar Farm in congratulated me. I did not know is achieved by making it a require­ Manual and Classification List may Southington, Ohio. for what and asked him. He said that ment for accreditation that a student be purchased from A. D. S. Treas­ I had won over him in the "Open judge pass a written examination urer, !\1rs. Caroline P . Meyer, 165 to All." based on a knowledge of the Judge's Harcourt Avenue. Bergenfield, N.J.) Roy Webb Reminisces - -0- Manual, the score card, an d the Clas­ As an additional service, especially At Cleveland some years back. sification List. In this way ali ac­ to chairmen of judges committees, One of the first meetings with the one of the Judges scored a dahlia credited judges are uing a common the A. D.S. Accredited Judges Com­ Editor in Chief of this Souvenir entry much lower than the other yardstick for evaluating dahlias. mittee published a 1963 Directory of Edition was at Peekskill, N. Y. four men. In checking his scores we Accredited Judges. A supplement to many years ago. After the judging found he had nothing down in two the 1963 Directory was published in was finished he went outside to take of the spots on the score card, \Ye the February 1964 issue of the A. D.S. kodachrome pictures of some of the called attention to this and his re­ Lundgrow Introductions Bulletin. prize winning blooms, so I tagged sponse was ''that is my score, take along to take some pictures for my­ it or leave it." Needless to sav \Ye Always Grow ! A . D . S. Plan and E fforts Justified self as well as to help Dudley carry left it, as he was more than three have named my new introduc­ Judging from the numerous re­ blooms out and in. He was equipped points belO\Y the aYerage of the tions after my relatives - because ports received by this Committee, with various colored backgrounds. others. I am proud of both. You will make the results of this program have jus­ and there being a little breeze it -o- my family very happy, if you have tified the efforts and money put into was hard to keep the background At Philadelphia a few years back in place. I don't know how many there was a wonderful entry of a their namesakes in your garden it. This Committee is grateful to all societies, to the senior judges com­ times I straightened the background, real orange colored collarette. Four this year. mittees, to the devoted teachers and but we both got some splendid pic­ of us scored it well over 85. But one W hen you write for my Catalogue, you friends who have cooperated through tures. For several years after that Judge, just did not like collarette's lndorse Family Co-hesion. Th at 's good, their schools to train student judges we always took blooms out on the and his score \Yas down in the 70's. in people AND in Dahlias. to make this movement a contribu­ ledge outside the top floor of the The point I am trying to make is LUNDGROW tion toward the improvement of the old Pennsylvania Hotel and took that some people only like big ones. quality of dahlia judging. As a result many pictures together. Peekskill while others like little ones. And DAHLIA GARDENS of this cooperative effort there are was the beginning of a long and if at all possible, assignments for I, 2, 3, 4, 5 Wooden St., now more than 600 accredited judges satisfying friendship, as we have unbiased Judges should be made ac­ Santa Claus, Calif. serving dahlia societies throughout judged on the same team many times cordingly, not only for seedlings, the United States. - Lawrence Pal- since then. but all through the show.

Page 22 The A. D. S. Golden Year Dahlia Record leadership the Society has grown having the Long I sland Agricultural from a small initial membership to College take over the east, with the May I Relate Some one having several thousand mem­ assistance of the Long Island Dahlia bers and 67 participating and affilia­ Society. Since then, this trial ground ted societies through all part of the had to be discontinued and we are A. D. S. History? country. now proving dahlias at the Bronx Botanical Park under the direction Trial Gardens Asks Leo L. Pollak of Mr. Louis C. Politi. Shortly after the founding of the A. D.S. Awards Since \Ye have reached th e fiftieth blooms but were the ordinary gar­ Society, the Charter members de­ anniversary of the founding of the den variety of small ball type flo\Y­ cided that to best evaluate a new The executive committee of the American Dahlia Society and since ers, but they were flowers, and that bloom there should be established A. D. S. later, with the consent of I have grown dahlias for about forty­ was all that counted. an Official Trial Ground in which the society, established the Derrill five years, I believe I am in a posi­ I then and there decided to find could be judged the work of the Hart Medal which is awarded to one tion both from age and from my out more about the plant that gave many n ew varieties that were con­ new bloom in each of the four size interest in our favorite fl o wers to so many fine blooms and decided tinually coming on the market. Ac­ classes whose average on the score relate some of the facts that have I would try to find out more about cordingly, such a trial garden was card, in at least three trial grounds been instrumental in the success of this wonderful flower. I contacted establi shed at the Connecticut Agri­ establishes it as the best of the new the A. D . S. and the men who, all the dahlia growers in the neigh­ cultural College, now the University introduction in its particular class. through the years, have been the borhood and for the next year, I of Connecticut. Professor George This high honor is keenly competed guiding spirits in the society. bought a number of roots from a Frazer was Professor of Horticul­ for and to win such an award as­ I was born and brought up in New grower named Parish in ~utley, ture at the college, and he volun­ sures the blooms of a place in com­ York City where, as most people of New Jersey. In the meantime I stud­ teered, with the assistance of Wm. merce. that time lived in apartment or flats ied their culture, whatever was avail­ Sweeney and later on Professor Thru' the years there were added depending on their income. Until I able in catalogues, etc. The second Patch to watch the growing habits a number of m edals and sundry moved to >: ew Jersey in 1919, the year I had a pretty good collection of each specimen. Several times each prizes given for the be·st new in­ only fl owers that I could identify of blooms, having learned in the year, some of the most knowledge­ troduction at shows throughout the \\·ere the rose, chrysanthum, pansy meantime about cultivating, feeding able men from the society would country. the principal ones was for a nd the daisy. When we set up our and disbudding the plants as they travel to Storrs, and judge the A. D. S. years the Home Achieve­ home, we had a house around which developed. blooms, using as a score sheet one m ent Medal, the Flower Grower·s there was quite a bit of land, on Checking further, I found that prepared by the Committee for trial award and lastly, but not least, the which there was g rowing a number there was in our state a :t\ e·w Jersey grounds of the Society. A. D. S. Seedling Sweepstakes of shrubs and bushes, none of which Dahlia Society, and soon I became .-\wards. The latter are given for I could name. a member. I m et with a number of the best undisseminated flow er two My first task in the new abode people who were not only inter­ years or more old which must score \Yas to develop a flower garden and ested in the :-Jew J ersey Society but 85% or more as judged on the bench in order to get a proper start I ar­ in the American Dahlia Society as score card. Another prize much com­ ranged "·ith a horticulturist to plant \\·ell. \Vith such people as Conrad peted fo r is the A. D . S. Achieve­ a number of different perenials. In Frey, Ed Lloyd, D addy Kemp, Mrs. m ent Award, which is competed for my first year I had much pleasure Stout and Mrs. FaitoU:t, I \\"as at any show by an associated society in watching them gro\Y, and nurs­ thrown in at once with the leading of the A. D. S. , the blooms in any ing them along, as described in a lights in the Dahlia World and I of the five major classes that make number of books and pamphlets that cultivated their friendship. I learned a designated percent as given on specialized in disseminating this from them a good deal about all the bench score card is awarded a kind of information. One day in the of the fin e points in growing dahlias. Working Wife -"Why don't you join society m edal. This year, for the that new Dahlia Society?" first time it will be the new Lynn spring, when I was working in the I Join the A . D. S. garden, one of the neighbors, whose Watering Husband - "What new so­ B. Dudley Medal. It honors him as ciety?" acquaintance I had cultivated, gave The next step in my advance in the originator of the A. D. S. Seed­ the dahlia world was to join the Wife - " They call it the Porcrastina­ ling Sweepstakes. me three clumps of what he called tor's Society. They give you a permit to "'dahlias." AmeTican Dahlia Society, and soon sit down when you water the garden.'' Research for Disease I became an active member. \Vhen There must have been from 8 to At the urgent request of a number show time came in September, I was 10 roots on each clump and being Storrs continued to be the prin­ of members, a Research Committee usually prepared \\·ith a number of a neophite I planted these in their ciple trial ground, (for many years wa set up in order to enable studies blooms all of which I entered, but entirety, in the best sunny place the only one), until the Committee to be made of virus diseases that seldom was awarded a top prize. But in the garden. This was about April decided that others should be es­ effect the growing of dahlias. Ac­ I enjoyed growing them and more 15, and the weather being mild they tabli shed in different parts of the cordingly. there was set up the J. than that, I enjoyed meeting with, started sending up shoots almost country, where climate and grow­ Louis Roberts Research Fund, the and getting to know men like Lynn immediately and continued growing, ing conditions are different from donations to which are all voluntary, ~udley , Dr. Preas, Eel Lloyd, Con- and growing and sending up more Connecticut. Accordingly, a trial The m oney thus obtained is used to 111e Frey, Gordon Wasser Warren and more shoots till by the middle ground was set up at Michigan State defray the expenses of conducting 2\!Taytrott, Dr. Cook and Dr.' Conners of June I had bushes that measured College, under the jurisdiction of the research work. At the present from ten· to fifteen feet high. Almost In the early days of my association Professor C. E. Wildon. The D ahlia time this work is done at Rutgers at once blooms started popping, and with the A. D . S .. D errill Hart \\·as Society of Georgia next set up a UniveTsity in New Brunswick, New by the first of July I had plants with one of the leading men in the society Trial Garden at Atlanta. Judge J ersey. There have been obtained a literally hundreds of blooms. Of and it was a thrill to be able to George Curry started one at Madi­ number of reports from this work course they were no prize sized associate with him, Jack Johnston, son. The Pacific ~orthwest Ground a nd the reports are distributed George Frazer, Roy \¥ebb, \Varren was set up at Tacoma, Washington among the members of the society, Maytrott, and D ewey Mohr: I soon and another at Oakland and Los An­ as weli as to all of the affiliated and found that although they were all geles, Calif. Today there are in oper­ branch societies. We Win in U. S. A. top m en in the society, they were ation, eight different trial grounds, never too busy to di scuss the pros The A . D . S. Bulletin American Trials Just Suit Our all under the in struction and guid­ and. cons of any fl ower, its growing ance of the Trial Ground Committee The American D ahlia Society is­ Dahlias - TEN Winners Last Year. habits, and their likes and di slikes. of the A. D. S. sues (four times a year) a Bulletin And, we win twice by naming them It was "always a pleasure" with them. In the mean time, when Storrs had in which is given all the happenings after American cities and places. Thru' the years, the A. D. S. has to be discontinued and a new eastern in the dahlia world, and all of the The old home town spirit, you know. been fortunate in having men like ground was set up at Rutgers Uni­ new introductions and worth-while Richard Vincent, Jr., C. Louis Al­ versity under the guidance of Dr. dahlia news. This usually has about 72 Pages of these Beatuies in our ling, Thomas Leavitt, D errill Hart, 30 to 40 pages and is regarded as Catalogue. Ask for it. C. H. Connors. This proved to be George Frazer, Lynn Dudley. Con­ one of the most used of all our Trial the foremost publication on the BY AIR MAIL rad Frey, Warren Maytrott, Ed Grounds. Unfortunately, expansion dahlia in the entire "·oriel. The orig­ Lloyd, Gordon Waaser as Presi­ of the college facilities and the fail­ inal edito1· of the Bulletin was Joseph Eau D. Brudesome dents, and in later years Drew ~Iul­ ing health of Dr. Connors necessi­ L. Lane, then Wm. Rathgober, who Barren, Holla nd cahy, Bruce Preas, and Bert Pitt. tated the abandoning of this estab­ was succeeded by Lynn Dudley who By the dint of hard work under such li shment, but \Ye were fortunate in (Continued on page 24)

September 18-20, 1964 Page 23 MAY I RELATE SOME tion displayed ingenious uses of veg­ A. D. S. HISTORY? (Cont'd) etables, artistically cut as flowers and ornamental compositions. Various managed it for many years. He was stages of corn from tassel to ear with followed by Gordon Wasser. Then the leaves dripping over the sides of back to Dudley again. Last year a harmonious container, caught the when he changed his residence to admiration of the judges and won California, the honor fell to Ed the tri-color for Mrs. Herbert L. Lloyd, who is now successfully edit­ ing the same. Conover, a consecutive winner of clever and original displays. The E xhibitions awards were simple and secondary Each fall the American Dahlia to the delight of the winners, some Society has a show which is regard­ of whom, including the Conovers ed as the top exhibition· for dahlias came very early at 7 A.M. from New in the country. For many years this Jersey and left their exhibits to be show was held in one of the larger staged by the committee, while they hotels in New York City. In recent 2Ml-l.t went on to their jobs, then returned years, in order to conserve the society's funds the show has been THESE CALIFORNIANS ARE WANDERING during their lunch hour to check held in conjunction with the Dahl1a IN NEWYORK STREETS their entries. Who could be more en­ Society of New J e-rsey. At these thusiastic and have more fun? shows there gather dahlia growers Som ewhere in t his vast Metropol is are t he four people sh own above, from Oakla nd, The Victory Gardens A. D.S. Show and lovers from all over the country. C al if. They are, from left: Ric ha rd C . Trotter, C arl Lundvall, Mrs. Lundvall a nd Mrs. was held September 23-24, 1943 at Much dahlia information is dissem­ Trotter. Mr. Lun d vall was president of the San Leand ro Dahlia Society in 1956, a nd, at the time of this picture, 1963, was president of the East Bay Dahli a Society. His Hotel Shelton on Lexington Avenue, inated besides g1vmg men and nickna me is "Sea biscuit" due t o his extra speed on t he Fr.eeways, just as he a pproaches New York City. On September 21-22, women who have an interest in the a t urn off, or where he sh ould t urn off. The Trotters are noted for g rowing fin e dahlias 1944, the thrill of holding the A. D.S. dahlia an opportunity to talk over in mid -wi nter, in their fron t yard. An yon e seen t hese fo ur wandering in New Yo rk o r Show at the Roof Garden of Hotel al! happenings in the- dahlia world. at the Fair? If so, just in t roduce yourself and you'll be among friends. Pennsylvania will long be remem­ Annual Meeting bered for the spectacular view en­ The annual meeting of the A. D. S. joyed of the East and Hudson Rivers is usually held in Tew York during Memoirs Of Garden Club Section around the southern tip of Manhat­ the month of January. At this meet­ tan Island with New York City's sky­ ing, which is usually very well at­ American Dahlia Society Beginning 1931 scrapers towering in the midst. tended by growers from all over the Our original committee was main­ country, all of the recommendations By Georgena Humb le tained over the years, looking for­ made by the executive committee are The clay Mr. Derrill W. Hart came enced when he and Mr. Leonard approved and all pertinent dahlia ward to show time each year for the to my home in early 1931 , requesting Barron drove home through it to problems are discussed and passed get-together. The judges en joyed the upon. The meeting is always fol­ me to take charge of the Garden Long Island. privilege of judging, continuing to lowed by a dinner, whose attendance Club Section of the American Dahlia At the September 20-2 1, 1934 honor us. Mrs. Jules E. Rosenthal is well above the hundred mark. At Society, was the beginning of one of Show, held at Hotel Pennsylvania in with her calm, composure, efficiency the conclusion of the dinner there the happiest and most enjoyable ex­ two large ball rooms, the Garden and untiring effort served in later are shown slide-s of al! the new and periences for me to be carried on Club Section had an ideal setting in years in the capacity of Assistant prominent dahlias that have come with great success over a long period one of these, with drapes and wall Chairman. into commerce during the year. of years. To have been associated mirrors as perfect background to re­ Many beautiful covers of the I started to write a short resume with all the Presidents and Execu­ flect the colorful Dahlias and fall A. D. S. Bulletins represented the of the work of the society, but being tive Boards since then, has brought a an ardent lover of the flower, I may flower exhibits. At this show, Miss photographic work of Mr. Albert delightful and enviable record to have exceeded my alloted space. I Mabel Bollerer of the Newington, Humble, designated official photog­ me, with greater knowledge of the conclude with these lines : Connecticut Garden Club, won the rapher for the Society's exhibits. Dahlia and an association of lifetime most coveted award and honor, the Exquisite compositions displayed by Father, Bless This Flower frienclshi ps. silver medal of the National Dahlia Garden Club members in the shows, Of all the beauteous flowers Starting the Garden Club Section Society of England, for the best ar­ also distinctive arrangements by Mrs. that grow, with the selection of a fine staff of rangement of Dahlias in the entire Georgena Humble, using special Upon this mudane sphere below, capable women to assist in securing show, with orchid flowering seedling Dahlias from Mr. Gordon Waaser's 'Tis hard to choose, \Yhere na­ exhibits from New York, Westches­ Dahlias, grown from seed by Mrs. and Mr. Lynn Dudley's gardens for ture's hand ter, Long Island, Staten Island, Con­ Alike her many gifts bestow, George E. Green, of the same garden these demonstrations, grace the pages necticut and New Jersey, the success Where every flower on which we club, who was a consistent winner in and front covers of back issues, which gaze of this part of the Society's Show was the Garden Club Section for many today would challenge the most clev­ Has beauty, sheen and richness assured. For many years, it gained years following, receiving the A. D.S. er at this art of flower composition. constantly in attraction, prestige, all in phase, Gold Medal in 1947 for her distin­ From time to time articles of in­ beauty, interest and friendships, Though most, some admiration guished achievement with Dahlias. terest on horticulture, ways to use claim, through the love of gardening with Numerous successes followed with Dahlias in gardens, treatment for And many aspire to queenly fame, display exhibits of accomplishment. shows in New York City's popular keeping them in condition, arrange­ Still far above them all we• hail, Our first Garden Club participa­ hotels, the Museum of Natural His­ ments using Dahlias, color h armony, The Dahlia. Oh! how kind has tion was at the Society's 17th Annual tory, Gardens of the Nations, at Dahlias for small gardens, work with been, four clay show in September 1931 at Rockefeller Center and the "Gar­ juniors stimulating interest in gro~'­ The Father of all men, to place Hotel Commodore, New York City. Such loveliness upon one stem. dens on Parade" at the 1939 World's ing Dahlias, distributing Dahlia Mr. Lynn B. Dudley's caption at the The flower with the most graceful Fair. This was a particularly distin­ seeds, and descriptions of shows with top of the Bulletin story was: fold guished show, the A. D. S. Silver An­ details of these exhibits, reveal So many sparked like purest gold SOCIETY'S SEVENTEENTH SHOW niversary Exhibition, at which Mr. through these writings an inspira­ (This Golden Year of the Dahlia) A SUCCESS Lynn Dudley was one of the com­ tion to any who read them. These With shades from white to dark­ GARDEN CLUB DISPLAYS SURPASS petent judges of the arrangement years of interest, encouraging prog­ est red, ANY PREVIOUS PRESENTATION classes in the Garden Club Section. ress and work for the American From pink to sum up colors spread, It may be noted here that on Sep­ At Grand Central Palace in 1942, Dahlia Society in helping to enrich Such is the flower we all adore, tember 8, 1934, Field Day at Storr's the 28th Annual Exhibition of the the Bulletin, may be recorded as Kind Father, bless it, guard it, Trial Garden, as recorded by Presi­ A. D.S. was combined with the New Memoirs of the Garden Club Sec­ keep it ever more. dent Derrill Hart, that a severe and York City Victory Garden Harvest tion-Georgena Humble, Vice-Presi­ -Leo. L. Pollak most disastrous storm was experi- Show, where our Garden Club Sec- dent and A. D. S. Life Member.

Paqe 24 The A. D. S. Golden Year Dahlia Record I hope they all got their money·s Pennsylvania H otel. Then I went Yes, They Were Tough Years worth. back to get my vases. In t he few minutes I was away, someone, a By C. Louis Alling Getting the Record Straight dastardly sneak thief, stole the {One of five living A. D. S. Charter Me mbers} There is one matter which I would satchel. I off ered a r eward, but the like to clear up, even 44 years after miserable thief never returned it. I Others will give you all the histori­ been devoting to the affairs of the it happened. In the October 1920 have always wondered if my custo­ cal facts about this society, although A. D . S. It was then, too that Lynn is sue of the Bulletin, it was reported m ers secured any of the fin e var­ I have lived through most of the Dudley took over the Bulletin Edi­ that I had lost my order book, in ieties which they had selected from events, and have taken an active torship the fir st time. One of my which I had recorded the names. my display. It is possible that the part in m ost of them until late years. jobs was to take printer's proofs addresses, and lists of dahlias which thief has gone to his reward. And Som e of the ·early years were r eall y fr om New Haven, where they wer e many customers had ordered at m y I wonder if St. Peter asked him tough. pr in tecl, down to L ynn in \.' ew York to attend why the old A. D. S. succeeded in the Executive m eetings every month. weatheri ng the fir st fiv e years. But it A Word About Trial Gardens did. We had to learn as we went along. I believe that the establishment of the Trial Garden at Storrs, and We Had Financial Troubles w ith the devotion to that phase of Perhaps the society had visions of the A. D . S. program of men like grandeur. Perhaps it was predestined Bill Sweeny, George Fraser and to attact other societies into its plans R oland Patch was the most signi­ for better dahlia growing and show­ fic ant part of our progress. Then ing, all across t he land. W e wanted later on after it had proved helpful to, and did help any other society to growers, the establishment of \\·hich asked for it. Perhaps we could other Trial Gardens was the key­ have gone further and faster with stone of the Society's progress. some wealthy "angels." But we had The Trial Gardens \\·ere reall y our troubles with short finances. W e responsible for the development, in had to keep the Bulletin going to my opinion, of standards in judging, members, and often this publication score cards and even classification of took large "bites" out of our finances. I 'm very sure this policy paid divi­ dahlias. dends, even though we did not have Good Fortune Came the nerve to raise our clues so that The society has been fortunate in J. W. JOHNSON GETS SECOND GOLD MEDAL the expense of operating and giving many respects over the half century. Th e lat.e 'Jack' Johnston, when Horticulture Ed itor of the N. Y. Herald Tribune, re­ shows would be covered. Som e offi­ It had leaders with vision. It attract­ cers had to " dig cl own" and make up ceived his second A. D. S. Gold Medal for his services to the dahlia world. He was ed workers and exhibitors who help­ the only ma n to have received a second such medal. Reason : Th.e first one was "ex­ the deficits in some years. But more ed to put on fin e exhibitions. True, tracted" from his apartment without his consent. He thought so much of the honor and more people begain to grow some of them labored under the mis­ confe rred upon him in its presentation, that h.e asked if he could have 'a second.' It dahlias and join the society and ex­ taken idea that there were fo rtunes was awarded to him at the A. D. S. Annual meeting by Past President Lynn Dudley, hibit at the shows, so that in the to be made in the commercial dahlia with Andrew Mulcahy {le~} , and Dr. Bruce Preas assisting. late 1920s the society was quite pros­ busin ess. Hundr·ecl s of small com­ perous. mercial firms were born to sell their The Largest Dahlia Show time At this show the late Charles On Being Secretary surplus roots. But they lacked the Reed fir st exhibited Margaret selling knowhow and did not adver­ Staged By the Late J. W. Johnston Broomall a big white dahlia orig­ The Rathgebers, "W i 11" a n d tise in the Bulletin, and soon faded. In America, most shows are local­ inated by J . ] . Bromall in California. "Mable," Editor and Treasurer, re­ R esult, lots of competition, and not ized, clue to packing and transpor­ It won many firsts in many shows, spectively, or many years, gave many firm s made money, with so tation cliffic:ulties: for years. freely of their time and did much to much competition in a new and un­ The American D ahli a Society Attendance was numbered in the keep up the inter est in the society. tried fi eld. But there were many new Shows, staged for so many years in thousands, and visitors from many Not many of us gave them the credit growers interested in growing and the Ball Room of the hotel, then states came to see. It was so suc­ they cleservecl, I'm afraid. When showing dahlias. The advertising in known as the· Pennsylvania, ,,·ere cessful that first year that it was \

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