NOVEMBER. 325 



water quickly finds its way through to the Thames. This witness also 

 further stated that throughout his experience and general observations 

 he had seen the advantage of protecting in spring, more especially Peach 

 and Nectarine trees ; he considers it not only ensures a crop but frees 

 the trees from the injurious effects of blister ; he also considers the best 

 way is to have the coverings upon rollers, so that by a little attention 

 the trees can be secured from hot sun, hail, drenching rains, and spring 

 frosts. 

 Ribston Park. Thomas W. Abbott. 



{To he continued.) 



DWARF BEDDING DAHLIAS. 



As almost every one is enquiring for what are termed bedding plants, 

 i.e., for continuous summer blooming plants, it is not at all surprising 

 that Dwarf Dahlias should have been resorted to, to add to the variety 

 and beauty of our flower gardens and shrubberies. These are now 

 grown to a considerable extent ; but the question is often asked, which 

 are the most suitable kinds, as hitherto only two or three varieties have 

 been grown for this purpose, but there are others that we think equally 

 adapted for the purpose that have not hitherto been tried. The best of 

 those already grown is, we think. Prince Arthur, a bright crimson, very 

 erect habit, with flowers on short stiff footstalks, yet well above the 

 foliage. Its height is about two feet, and it is in every respect a good 

 kind for beds, for the purpose of ribboning or to be grown as single 

 plants for the borders. 



Zelinda is a dwarfer kind, of a dark purple colour, and is tolerably 

 well known and cultivated ; height about 18 inches. We have also the 

 Crystal Palace Scarlet, a variety with starry ragged scarlet flowers, 

 which, if planted early, are produced in profusion. It requires pegging 

 down for beds, as it is a taller grower than the preceding sorts. It 

 should be grown in poor soil, or it will not flower freely enough to be 

 showy. It has been grown in some localities for a considerable time, 

 and has only recently received the name it bears. Captain Ingram has 

 never yet been tried for bedding purposes, being quite new. It grows 

 no higher than Zelinda, dark crimson in colour, and produces fine 

 shaped flowers in great abundance. It is well worthy to be grown 

 where a dark kind is required. Queen of Whites is also a good shaped 

 kind, and very free blooming as well, maintaining its purity of colour in 

 the hottest weather ; height three feet. Titian is a bright clear yellow, 

 and shows its flowers well above the foliage, but, like Zelinda and 

 Prince Arthur, has no pretension to form ; height three feet. It will 

 thus be seen that we are possessed of white, yellow, scarlet, bright 

 crimson, dark crimson, and purple Dahlias suitable for the purposes of 

 bedding, the tallest of which is the Crystal Palace Scarlet. All these 

 enumerated, however, if used as bedding plants, are best pegged down 

 to the ground. 



