104 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



of the preceding year, and the foundation was laid by stopping the 

 young shoots when required during the first year. In the early part 

 of the year in which they were exhibited they were pruned into 

 shape, and when they were growing freely the young shoots were 

 thinned out where they were likely to be too close together 

 when full grown, and the growth towards the top pinched once or 

 twice to prevent their robbing the lower branches of their proper 

 share of nourishment. The young growth was not stopped so 

 excessively as is usually practised, and the results are certainly 

 such as to prove that Mi*. Cannell's style, which is intermediate 

 between a bush and a pyramid, is one worthy of general adoption. 

 Pyramidal specimens are produced by training up a single stem, and 

 stopping it when necessary to promote the production of side- 

 branches, which in their turn should be stopped two or three times 

 in the course of the season. 



Of the newer sorts that can be recommended, the following are, 

 perhaps, the best : — Splendour, Pride of Woolwich, Perfection, King 

 of the Stripes, Will Sell, Vesta, and Beauty of Kent. Of the older 

 varieties the following can be recommended as being the most 

 desirable in the several classes : — Enoch Arden, Try Me O, Lizzie 

 Hexham, KilliecranTcie, Brilliantissima, Lustre, Beauty of Shohden, 

 Beauty, Lady Heytesbury ', Conspicua, Bland's Floribunda, Bicturata, 

 Mrs. Ballantine, Henderson's Avalanche, Lord Calthorpe, Harry 

 Felton, Champion of the World, and Blue Boy. There are many 

 other good varieties, but the above are sufficient to form, the nucleus 

 of a collection. 



DAHLIAS.— No. II. 



BY JOHN WALSH. 



jF the directions given in these pages last month, under 

 this heading, were carried out, the cultivator will now 

 be in a position to proceed with the preparation of the 

 bed for the reception of the plants, and a little advice 

 upon that part of the subject will doubtless be pecu- 

 liarly acceptable. If it is intended to exhibit blooms in the autumn, 

 a favourable position must be selected for the bed ; but if merely 

 intended for the decoration of the flower-garden, they should be 

 planted wherever room can be found for them at the back of the 

 mixed borders. 



Although I shall give a few directions for the preparation of the 

 bed for plants that are to furnish blooms for exhibition purposes, I 

 should certainly not advise those who take them in hand for the 

 first time to exhibit in the forthcoming autumn. There are so 

 many things to learn respecting the management of the plants and 

 the preparation of the blooms, before first-rate flowers can be pro- 

 duced, that can only be learnt by working at them for a year or 

 two. Therefore, the chance of the novice occupying a high position 



