98 



THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



qualities. If we could obtain per- 

 fect flowers of the size of a shilling, 

 it would be a great advantage, but 

 anything larger than half-a-crown 

 ought not to be tolerated. The 

 flowers should approximate in out- 

 line to a section of a sphere, rounding 

 up well to a crown, and be regularly 

 quilled, and as close and compact as 

 a show ranunculus. It is delightful 

 to observe the symmetry of some of 

 the bouquet varieties ; they have the 

 perfection of florists' flowers, and it 

 is quite possible they may yet be 

 shown as such — perhaps in a class 

 for miniature dahlias ; for to call 

 them bouquets would ruin them for 

 show purposes. 



To grow these dahlias is a very 

 simple affair. It is well not to plant 

 too soon. The second week in May 

 is the best time ; and if delay cannot 

 be avoided, they may be planted as 

 late as the second week in June, to 

 ensure a good bloom. But it is not 

 advisable to delay the planting later 

 than the second week in May, as if 

 hot, dry weather overtakes them 

 before they have made an abundance 

 of roots, tbey become infested with 

 thrip or red spider, and bloom very 

 poorly. An open, sunny position, 

 and a ricb, loamy soil are desirable ; 

 but unlike the show varieties, they 

 may be growu tolerably well in a 

 border partially shaded by trees, and 

 in soil of ordinary border quality. 

 They must be securely staked, and 

 have abundance of water during dry 

 hot weather. The following is a 

 list of the most perfect varieties in 

 cultivation, selected from a collection 

 of ninety varieties. Those marked (*) 

 are suitable for bedding : — 



Annie, rosy blush, tipped violet. 



Bessie, buif yellow, shaded red. 



Conqueror, claret crimson. 



Fairy Child* crimson, margined 

 white. 



German Daisy* rose shading to 

 blush. 



Linda, buff, tipped bronze. 



Little Darling, amaranth rose. 



Little Dear, blush white, tipped 

 violet. 



Little 3fistress, violet purple. 



Little Nujade, * blush, edged 

 crimson. 



Little Philip, creamy buff, edged 

 rosy lilac. 



Pet of the Village, pure buff, 

 tipped bronze crimson. 



Pretty Polly* lilac self. 



Tom Rover, rosy violet, salmon 

 centre. 



A SELECTION OF EXHIBITION 

 DAHLIAS FOE 1865. 



The following are 50 of the best 

 show dahlias, including new and old 

 varieties, and representing all the 

 classes. A carefully-prepared selec- 

 tion of 132 varieties will be found in 

 the " Garden Oracle" of 1865 :— 



Light. — Miss Henshawe, Hon. 

 Mrs. Trotter, Miss Pressley, Mrs. 

 H. Vyse, Charlotte Dorling, Sere- 

 nity, Anna Keynes, Princess Alex- 

 andra. 



Yellow and Oeange. — Norfolk 

 Hero, Chairman, Golden Drop, Hugh 

 Miller, Charles Turner, Lord Eussell, 

 General Jackson, William Dodd, 

 Fanny Purchase, Willie Austin, 

 Chelsea Hero, Golden Admiration. 



Cbimson and Eed. — John Keynes, 

 Madge Wildfire, Disraeli, Lady 

 Franklin, Merveille, Sidney Herbert, 

 Triomphe de Pecq, Donald Beaton, 

 Scarlet Gem, Lord Clyde. 



Pubfle and Maeoon. — Andrew 

 Dodd, Lord Derby, Earl of Shaftes- 

 bury, Midnight, Pre-eminent, Beauty 

 of Hilperton, Erebus. 



Lilac. — Baron Taunton, Juno, 

 Marquis of Bowmont, Jenny Austin, 

 Lilac Queen. 



Steiped and Spotted. — Countess 

 of Shelbourne, The Bride, Charles 

 Perry, Garibaldi, Octoroon. 



Tipped. — Lady Paxton, ]S"orah 

 Creina, Queen Mab. 



SPECIMEN" MUSK PLANTS. 



A plant which is so universal a 

 favourite, I am surprised more pains 

 are not taken to make it more attrac- 



tive in form, instead of its being 

 allowed to run straggling and weakly, 

 as we mostly see it. It is capable, 



