3S4. FLORA HISTORICA. 



have had their petals doubled and quadrupled 

 until they have become as full as the China Aster 

 or the Rose Centifolia, whilst their colours have 

 even been more increased than their petals, and 

 display a richness which rivals that of the gaudy 

 Tulip, or the finest tints which the silk-dyer is 

 able to give to the glossy velvet. 



The most beautiful varieties of this flower have 

 been raised from the seeds of the single purple 

 Dahlia ; and so numerous are the kinds already 

 become that some of our nurserymen offer more 

 than two hundred varieties for sale. 



The more curious kinds are increased by two 

 different modes, first by cuttings, which should 

 be taken from the root shoots in the spring, or 

 from young shoots in the early part of the sum- 

 mer, these when cut smoothly off in the middle 

 of a joint are to be planted in light sandy earth 

 on a moderately hot-bed, and covered with glasses. 

 The top leaves of the cuttings should not be re- 

 moved when planted. These cuttings form tubers 

 and produce flowers during the autumn. 



The second mode of increasing choice Dahlias 

 is, by grafting the shoots of valuable plants on the 

 tubers of the roots of more common kinds. Florists 

 are indebted to Mr. Thomas Blake, gardener to 

 James Vere, Esq. of Kensington-Gore, for this 

 ingenious discovery, which he made known to 



