DATTLfA. 381 



the public through the transactions of the Hor- 

 ticultural Society of London, in August, 1821. 

 Mr. Blake says, " not being able to procure 

 plants of double Dahlias, but having opportunities 

 of obtaining cuttings from my brother gardeners, 

 I was induced to try the experiment of grafting 

 them, in preference to striking the cuttings, which 

 is a tedious process. I first attempted it last 

 year, but began too late to succeed well; for 

 unless the new plant forms eyes for the succeed- 

 ing year, it is nothing more than annual ; and 

 the work must be done early, to effect this object. 

 In the present season, I have succeeded beyond 

 my most sanguine expectations. 



" The cutting intended for the graft should be 

 strong, and short-jointed, having on it two or 

 more joints, or buds ; it must be also procured 

 as soon in the season as possible ; when obtained, 

 select a good tuber of a single sort, taking espe- 

 cial care that it has no eyes ; with a sharp knife 

 (for a dull edge would mangle the fleshy root, 

 make it jagged, and so prevent a complete ad- 

 hesion,) cut off a slice from the upper part of the 

 root, making at the bottom of the part so cut a 

 ledge whereon to rest the graft ; this is recom- 

 mended because you cannot tongue the graft as 

 you would do a wood shoot, and the ledge is 

 useful in keeping the cutting fixed in its place 



VoL.U. 2C 



