JANUARY. 15 



experience that a great number of flowers require different treat- 

 ment. 



In a collection of Dahlias there will be flowers of various, and 

 some of opposite characters and habits. Many ask, What is the use 

 of growing Queen of the East ? it is too small ; or Thames-Bank 

 Hero, on account of the opposite fault, viz. being too large, which 

 often carries coarseness with it. Both these defects may be over- 

 come by means of a little care and attention; and as one-third of the 

 sorts cultivated belong to one or the other of these classes, the im- 

 portance of making every plant produce blooms fit for exhibition will 

 be evident. To this end we propose giving a descriptive list of the 

 popular varieties already out, with particulars as to the proper treat- 

 ment which each requires. 



Sir Robert Peel (Drummond). Bright scarlet lake, with small 

 bronze tip on the points of the petals ; a very finely formed flower of 

 great depth. By putting out good plants early, it will be tolerably 

 constant ; but forcing an indifferent plant to get it into bloom in 

 time, will cause it to come thin in the centre ; it should receive an 

 average amount of thinning and disbudding; no degree of growth 

 will make it coarse ; it is good in habit, and grows 5 feet high. 



Sir Charles Napier (Hale). Deep scarlet of exquisite form, com- 

 pactly built ; petal stout ; a constant variety. This cannot be grown 

 too strongly ; it requires considerable thinning of the young shoots, 

 and disbudding. It is dwarf in habit, being from 2 to 3 feet high. 



General Faucher (Rose). Rosy carmine, with bronze shade. A 

 constant flow^er of good size ; average growth and disbudding ; good 

 in habit ; 5 feet high. 



Mrs. Seldon (Turner), Large bright yellow, cannot be too early ; 

 the majority of the buds should be permitted to remain until they 

 are sufficiently developed, in order to ascertain if they are likely to 

 produce good blooms ; remove thin, or otherwise imperfect buds. A 

 full-sized flower, but somewhat uncertain ; nevertheless it is the best 

 of its class. It must have good growth ; 4 to 5 feet high. 



Duke of Cambridge (Fellowes). Lilac, a constant and useful 

 flower ; best early ; it requires an average amount of thinning ; 3 

 feet high. 



Fearless (Barnes). The best lilac; a full- sized fine flower, best 

 in strong heavy soil ; few shoots will require removing ; disbud 

 moderately ; grows 5 feet high. 



John Edicard (Salter). Bright scarlet, fine, but occasionally 

 hard-eyed ; it should be grown in the most moist part of the garden ; 

 manure, and water freely ; thin moderately ; noble in habit ; 7 feet 

 high. 



Sir F. Bathurst (Keynes). The best crimson, early variety ; a 

 succession of plants should be put out, as it is liable to bloom itself 

 out ; very fine in form, and requires an average amount of thinning ; 

 3 feet high. 



Princess Radziwill (Gaines). White, mottled with purple ; a 

 favourite old variety ; some plants are liable to throw thin blooms, 

 and therefore such should be discarded ; propagate only from those 



