Dahlia ‘Sir F. Bathurst’

Keynes’ ‘Sir F. Bathurst’.  ‘Crimson, fine petal, very symmetrical in arrangement and true outline, of great depth, but rather flat in centre.’  It was awarded a First class certificate in 1849.  [FC p.4/1850].  ‘Seedlings were numerous but there was nothing amongst them very striking [except] ‘Sir F. Bathurst’, a crimson of fine form, and apparently constant’.  [Gard. Chron. 1849].  It was considered to be one of the best dahlias sent out in the years 1848-50, particularly admirable because it ‘throws [its] blooms well up above the foliage and is of good habit.’  In 1853 it was among ‘dahlias expected to be extensively cultivated this year’.  [Gard. Chron. 1853].  It was also among the prize takers at the great exhibition of dahlias held in Edinburgh in 1855, and again at the Grand National Dahlia Show, September, 1858.  [Gard. Chron. 1855 and 1858].