THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 247 



The blooms are put in the bugs before they are far advanced, and 

 the hitter are drawn together at the stem, but with sufficient room 

 for the flower to expand. In dry seasons, paper bags have been 

 frequently employed with good effect. 



The " properties " of the Dahlia have been settled many years 

 since ; but to enable the young beginner to know what to 

 look for in making up his stands, a short description of what 

 a good show-flower should- be, will, in conjunction with the 

 accompanying illustrations be of considerable service. First, 

 the flower should, in the outline of the disc, present the figure 

 of a circle, as shown in Fig. 3, and in bulk form nearly two-thirds of 

 a ball. The rows of petals should describe regular rings, and should 

 lie over each other as regularly and evenly as shown in Fig. 4, 



iliP 



Fig. 4. — Side View of a Show Dahlia. 



the sizes gradually diminishing to the centre, which should be well 

 up without a trace of the eye being visible. The petals should close 

 over each other so as to conceal their bases ; they should be broad 

 at their ends, free from notch or serrature, firm in substance and 

 smooth in texture. They should cup slightly, but not sufficient to 

 show the back. The colour should be dense and clear ; and the 

 edged or tipped flowers should have their tints clear and well defined. 

 The size will of course vary according to the usual size of the 

 flowers of the respective varieties ; but the larger the flowers are, 

 provided they show no trace of coarseness and are otherwise well 

 finished, the better. 



The blooms should be gathered in the evening of the day 

 previous to the show, unless they are intended for an exhibition 

 held a considerable distance from where they were grown, and then 

 they ought to be cut early in the morning. They should be put in 

 the tubes with which the stand is fitted immediately they are cut. 



