82 



THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



be stopped early, as they seldom present a satisfactory appearance 

 when allowed to run up to a great height and then stopped back. 



Iresine Lindeni is one of the most valuable acquisitions introduced 

 for many years past ; it is, in fact, the best dark-leaved bedder we 

 have. The leaves and stems are of a deep rich sanguineous red, the 

 growth is all that can be desired, and it will grow freely in cold 

 situations, where the Coleus will hardly live. This reminds me that 

 the Coleus must not be omitted, although they are not of much 

 service to people who have no stove to keep them in during the 

 winter. "We have tried all the varieties here, and the best for 

 bedding were Princess of Wales, Emperor Napoleon, and Verstfiaffelti, 

 all of which have rich chocolate foliage. A great many worthless 

 sorts have been seut out of late years. 



DAHLIAS. 



BT JOHN WALSH. 



AHLIAS are not, perhaps, so popular as they were 

 between twenty and thirty years ago, yet they are suf- 

 ficiently appreciated to justify a friendly chat about 

 them in these pages. The splendid stands of blooms 

 staged at the Crystal Palace and provincial exhibitions, 

 held during the autumn months, afford evidence that they are held 

 in higher esteem than many florists, especially those that stay at 

 home, suppose. It is not, however, desirable that I should occupy 

 space so valuable as these pages in discussing this point, and I will 



at once proceed to offer a few useful 

 hints which, if acted upon, can- 

 not be otherwise than of great value 

 to the young beginner. The first 

 step for the young beginner to take 

 in the matter will be to procure a 

 stock. Now the usual period for 

 buying dahlias is the month of May, 

 when they can be obtained at the 

 rate of about four shillings per 

 dozen. It is, however, a bad time 

 to buy them, because they are 

 generally very small, and in any- 

 thing but a satisfactory condition 

 for starting away vigorously when 

 planted out. Instead of buying 

 young plants in May, I should 

 strongly advise the purchase of 

 ground roots at once, and then propagate a stock from them. 

 They will cost a trifle more ; but as a large number of plants 

 can be obtained from each, they will be the cheapest in the 

 end. The cuttings strike very freely, and by ordinary management, 



Fig. 1. 



