Plants in the Hortus
Many of the plants described here were listed in the catalogues of plants published by Sir William Macarthur in 1843, 1845, 1850 and 1857 and in an unpublished catalogue dated 1861. A large number of additional plants were identified from correspondence, gardening notebooks and other documents surviving in the archives. The Hortus attempts to describe all the plants grown in the gardens at Camden Park and those grown in horticultural enterprises such as orchards and vineyards and includes plants grown outside the gardens in the park-like environs of the Camden Park estate. The Hortus plants served a wide range of purposes in the 19th century household; as ornament, living fences, fibre, dyestuffs, medicines, food and drink from the garden, orchard and vineyard and many others.
Dahlia ‘Beauty of the Grove’
Probably Burgess’ ‘Beauty of the Grove’. Pale buff yellow with dark rosy tips, attractive and with plenty of ‘stuff’ to warrant good growth. [Gard. Chron. 1851]. The Floricultural Cabinet provided a list of new dahlias offered to the public in 1853 and described ‘Beauty of the Grove’ as ‘yellowish buff, edged with rosy pink; good outline and centre; pretty.’ [FC p.37/1853]. ‘Beauty of the Grove’, presumably Burgess’, was a prize winner at the Grand National Dahlia Show, September 1858. [Gard. Chron. 1858].
Dahlia ‘British Queen’
‘White, edged with rosy lilac, outline good, centre well up.’ First offered to the public in 1853. [FC p.37/1853]. ‘Dahlias expected to be extensively cultivated this year include “British Queen”.’ [Gard. Chron. 1853].
Dahlia ‘Claudia’
Introduced in 1853, ‘purple with white tip; good outline, but not equal to Mrs. Hansard.’ [FC p.37/1853].
Dahlia ‘Corialanus’
Probably Dray’s ‘Corialanus’. ‘Light purple, moderately good formed [sic], but rather too flat.’ [FC p.12/1838].
Dahlia ‘Countess of Harrington’
Although the handwriting is somewhat illegible this plant is probably ‘Countess of Harrington’. It was a regular prize winner in 1834. [FC 1834). Another possibility is Allman’s ‘Countess of Torrington’, winner of ten prizes in the 1840 show season.
Dahlia ‘Duke of Wellington’
Drummond’s ‘Duke of Wellington’. ‘A good orange dahlia was much required, and this is one; it has a fine centre and outline, is of medium size, and the colour is bright. Nothing yet produced in this class comes near it.’ [FC p.10/1849]. ‘Duke of Wellington’ was a firm exhibition favourite from the late 1840s onwards. Described as an orange-scarlet self, it was considered to be one of the best dahlias sent out in the years 1848-50. It was among the prize takers at the great exhibition of dahlias held in Edinburgh in 1855, and still among the prize winners at the Grand National Dahlia Show in September 1858. [Gard. Chron. 1858]. Possibly illustrated in the British Florist although the flower shown does not conform to the descriptions given here, being a ball type flower of deep red, almost maroon. [BF pl.40/1843]. It is quite likely that more than one flower was given the name ‘Duke of Wellington’ although I have only found descriptions of Drummond’s plant. Few coloured illustrations of dahlias survive from this time.
Dahlia ‘Elizabeth’
Proctor’s ‘Elizabeth’. ‘A fancy flower, white, edged with lilac, full medium size, symmetrically arranged and good outline; rather flat in the face, centre well filled but hard to close, few of the many blooms we saw being perfect in the centre.’ Awarded a Second Class certificate in 1849. [FC p.4/1850]. ‘Proctor’s “Elizabeth” will make a very desirable addition to this class; it may be described as a blush with rosy-purple stripes, well defined.’ [Gard. Chron. 1849]. It was considered to be one of the 12 best ‘fancies’ sent out in the years 1848-50. [Gard. Chron. 1851]. It was till winning prizes at the Grand National Dahlia Show, Sept. 23 and 24, 1858 and was included among the ‘best Fancies – tipped’. [Gard. Chron. 1858].
Dahlia ‘Exquisite’
Holmes’ ‘Exquisite’. Cream ground, tipped with bright rose. [Gard. Chron. 1841]. It was described as lilac and white and included in a list of the best laced or shaded dahlias in the Floricultural Cabinet. [FCp.104/1848].
Dahlia ‘Lilac King’
‘Very pretty lilac; large, and of excellent form.’ First offered to the public in 1853. [FC p.37/1853]. ‘Dahlias expected to be extensively cultivated this year include ‘Lilac King’’. [Gard. Chron. 1853]. It was among the prize takers at the great exhibition of dahlias held in Edinburgh [Gard. Chron. 1855] and a prize winner at the Grand National Dahlia Show of September 1858. [Gard. Chron. 1858].
Dahlia ‘Marquis of Abercorn’
Although the handwriting is difficult to read this plant is probably ‘Marquis of Abercorn’, listed as a crimson variety in a list of new Dahlias in 1835. [FC p.68/1835].
Dahlia ‘Mary of Little Park’
Squibbs’ ‘Mary of Little Park’ is ‘very pleasing in colour [not specified], but, large, wide, and ugly in form’. [FC p.12/1838].
Dahlia ‘Metropolitan Purple’
‘Moderate, but rather too starry’, suggesting that it was a semi-cactus type. [FC p.27/1838]. I have found no detailed description.
Dahlia ‘Miss Frampton’
A deep red ground, with shaded white tip, good form and substance and ‘well deserving the First-Class Certificate which was awarded to it’. Bred by Mr. Rawlings, it was awarded its Certificate at the National Floricultural Society show in September. [Gard. Chron. 1854]. Included among the best ‘Fancies – tipped’ at the Grand National Dahlia Show, Sept. 23 and 24, 1858. [Gard. Chron. 1858].
