The initials are a bit unfortunate. And it takes a bit of a
struggle to wade through. However it is worth the effort - the
IRA stands for the International Registration Authority (for Dahlia
Names).
It is the body that answered the call for an international register,
a sort of dahlia stud book. A much needed data bank that would
store pedigrees, enabling the history of a variety to be traced
back for generations.
In 1962, following a congress held in Brussels, the Royal Horticultural
Society was appointed to overlord the project.
The IRA came into being and a standard classification specification
was agreed. To get growers in every country singing from the same
hymn sheet.
The RHS was well equipped for the task. It already had a master
index of dahlia varieties amounting to several thousand names.
Dating back to the middle of the 19th century. Countries around
the world added their own lists.
The first directory proved to be a fair sized volume. Cultivars
known to be extinct were not included unless they were regarded
as being of historical importance. Over the last thirty or so
years, a series of supplements have been published. The bureau
is constantly updating the register.
The listings painstakingly include details of name, date, pedigree,
raiser, introducers, classification, and colour. In time a huge
data base will be built up.
It will become more comprehensive and more useful as more and
more information is added. Enabling future growers and exhibitors
to trace varieties which played key roles in the dahlia’s
development.
Delving through the registry jogs the memory about famous varieties
of yester-year and more interestingly how they were bred. Some
of the earlier listings are not so much golden oldies as your
actual ancients.
“Serenity” and “The Bride” were being grown
in 1862, for instance. The following year “Vivid” and
“Useful” were among the newcomers which were to became
famous in their day. “Spitfire” was flying high in 1864
and growers were given an “Ultimatum” the following
spring.
More modern raisings that will interest today’s growers,
particularly where there is a Scottish connection. The famous
small decorative Rothesay Robin was introduced during 1967. It
emanated from “Sonia” crossed with an unnamed seedling.
But a search shows no fewer than 14 different Rothesay’s,
all registered by Lister.
“At Last”, a red and yellow bicolour, was raised by
A. Fleming from Irvine, in 1969, and was marketed by W. Paterson,
at Dunshelt Nurseries in Fife. In the same catalogue that year
was “Bridal Morn”, a Tom Cleghorn raising.
Dunshelt produced a number of varieties that are listed for posterity.
“Fiery Cross”, “Fair City” (a sport of “City
Lights”), “Mercer Boy” and “Minifire”
being only some.
There is also “Forgotten Days”, raised by our own Tom
Cleghorn. Its parents are listed as “Moathill” x “Dancing
“Queen”. And there is “Burnside” from “Nichola”
x “Richard Marc” “Rose-wood” came from the
same marriage. And Richard Marc pops up again on the birth certificate
of Tom Cleghorn’s “Stuartfield”. Moathill, of course,
was from “Handel” x “Monk Marc” .
It is interesting to flick through the pages and examine the background
of varieties which have become British bankers over recent years.
Nina Chester, when launched in 1974, was acclaimed for its superb
form and became one of the all time great small decs. She was
from a white variety called Snow Queen registered just after the
war,
In turn, Nina was responsible for a number of top class offspring.
“Nationwide” was from (Frank Hornsey x Nina Chester);
L’Ancresse was (Margaret Anne x Nina Chester).
And Senzoe Ursula was another of Nina’s offspring.
Honeymoon Dress was a seedling from Wooton Phebe. Frank Hornsey
descended from crossing Golden Turban with an unknown.
In today‘s world, Ruskin Diane and its sports currently dominate
the small decorative section - but Ruskin’s parents are marked
unknown.
The background to the small cactus of modern times is equally
intriguing. Klankstad Kerkrade, 1954, surely one of the all time
greats, came from the Bruidegom stable in Holland.
The IRA list suggests that it may have been originally named Sulphur
Treasure. Geerlings Elegans, better known as Lemon Elegans, registered
in 1982, was from KK which spawned a multitude of sports and which
itself was used heavily as a breeding source.
Curiously, the Geerings nursery registered a Yellow Elegans (which
seems to have created no stir) some 12 years before Lemon.
Among other small cactus, Athalie also figured widely in modern
breeding lines, its pedigree is marked unknown. A very great pity
- because it provided a useful basis for breeding. “Conway”,
raised by R. N. Weekes, was from an Athalie x Morley Lass pairing.
Luck, it would appear, plays a major role in creating cracking
new varieties. Daleko Gold’s pedigree is unknown. In turn,
the top medium dec. Charlie Two resulted from a Daleko Gold x
unknown pairing. Grenidor Pastelle, we know, came from Reginald
Keene.
It may have been going for decades, but the IRA process is still
in its infancy. It is unfortunate that many top varieties of recent
decades are not listed.
In many instances because the raisers, themselves, used lucky
dip tactics in accumulating seed. Or, for personal reasons, don’t
want to disclose the parent stock involved.
The register can be a source of some entertainment on a winter’s
night . By just gently scanning through the lists and marvelling
at the names.
The lists contain ample evidence that, throughout history, raisers
have been searching for the elusive blue dahlia. The present known
stock of dahlias don’t carry blue genes.
But that has not stopped the miracle seekers. “Bonny Blue”
(synonym Blue Danube) may have been a bit of a sensation when
it appeared just after the war. But the register has no fewer
than 20 varieties all claiming the blue riband. Ranging from Blue
Diamond right down the alphabet to Bluish Victory. They are, of
course, all officially classified as being lilacs and purples.
Flick through the register and you find some bizarre characters
cropping up.
There’s an Abe Lincoln and Andrew Carnegie. Even an Adolf,
registered in 1930s Europe, who naturally did not survive the
war years.
For the patriotic, there will always be an England (reg. 1937),
and Union Jack (1911). Not to be kept out, Old Scotia was registered
in 1963.
There’s a Celtic (1932) and a variety called Ranger. Just
to balance things up. And there’s a Football Fan.
There’s Big Ben and his mucker Big Chief. There’s “Wee
Jean” a Scots raising in 1958 who was followed by “Big
Eck” who took his bow in 1965. There’s Kojak. And there
is a Kinky.
There’s Dinah Shore, Bud Flanagan, Mary Poppins, Ginger Rogers,
Lonnie Donegan, Bob Hope, and Vera Lynn. However it was the small
cactus Doris Day that became the best known of the showbiz names.
Continuing on the same showbiz theme there was Coronation Street,
an Oscroft offering registered in 1962. There is even the chance
of a night at the Bingo.
The powers that be were very well represented ... with a President,
King, Queen, Emperor and Duke. Even a lowly Baron. “Atom
Bomb” appeared in 1945. About the same time, the military
were fashionable and we had, On Parade, a Five Star General right
through the ranks to a Brigadier, a Colonel, and on down to a
mere Commando.
Santa Claus gets a mention, plus Bo-Peep, Be-Bop, Baby Doll. Some
monikers are downright stupid. Like calling something Dotty. One
crawler, no doubt hoping for a rebate, entitled his pride and
joy Inland Revenue.
But my own favourite entry was a dark red decorative, named simply
“Winner”. Now that`s the kind of dahlia we would all
like to stage.