Perhaps this is the most controversial point of all, as the ability to discern colour varies intensely with the individual, as does personal preference.

One of the most unsatisfactory statements ever made was to the effect “that the colour should be typical of the variety”. It is unsatisfactory inasmuch as it meant that if a variety was of a poor or indeterminate colour, its merits had to he judged on a condition which in itself was not desirable. In all other characteristics judges do not make much allowance for inherent faults in the particular variety, so that it does not appear to be logical to choose a different basis for judging colour.

This is not such an easy question to answer as so many points will affect the issue. If the plants have been grown for garden display, particularly if they were raised from divided tubers, there is no urgency unless it is more convenient to clear the ground. The plants may well be allowed to continue blooming until the frost does finally settle the problem for another year.

If they have been grown for exhibition, which means that they will have been planted in rich ground and probably fed generously during the summer, a number of other points must be considered.

It must be stressed that a dahlia tuber should never be lifted until it has become “ripe”. That is, it has taken up and absorbed sufficient starches and sugars in a stable form suitable for storage throughout the resting period.

Show and Fancy dahlias are, to my mind, comparable with the giant decorative. To be really good they must be both large and of good form, but their smaller cousins the pompons, particularly the small ones, may be compared with the other smaller types. Beauty of form and condition are of relatively greater importance. The small pompons must not exceed 2 in. in diameter.The judge, however, should not be biased in favour of a particular colour, as this is a matter for personal preference and he must he above this form of bias. For example a personal preference for red and orange must not be used to the disadvantage of other colours such as lavender or pink. The sole criterion must be whether or