282 



THE FLORIST. 



watchfulness, are the elements of success in every branch of culture." 

 Simon departed, apparently treasuring in his memory these last 

 words of John, whom he seemed to regard as a Mentor in gar- 

 dening. 



William Paul. 



{To be concluded in the next Number.') 



THE DAHLIA. No. 1. 



At the close of another season we have ventured, as briefly as pos- 

 sible, to detail the results of our observations and experience on 

 this flower in 1853. It will be of little interest to state that the 

 season has been unusually wet ; yet it is necessary to explain the 

 effect such a season has on particular varieties, more especially in 

 certain localities. The long continuance of wet weather engendered 

 a very luxurious growth, which caused many flowers to produce 

 coarse blooms, with petals large and open, and loose in the centre. 

 This defect in the blooms is very much heightened by injudicious 

 thinnings of the shoots and buds, an operation generally performed too 

 early, and often in too sweeping a manner. Yet, generally, blooms 

 this season have been above the average, the flowers being beauti- 

 fully clean. Such a moist season naturally gave some trouble in keep- 

 ing down slugs ; but this was compensated for by having less ear- 

 wigs, with scarcely any thrips. 



At page 55, we described twenty-two varieties sent out the pre- 

 ceding season, and ten fancy kinds, all of which we grew in con- 

 siderable numbers. Six of them we shall not grow again, namely, 

 Toison orange, which is coarse, with low centre; Tom, a variety 

 that quills too much, and is very late ; Lizzy, too small, and only 

 good early ; Globe, very uncertain ; Jaune de Passy, flat, large, and 

 ribby ; Niobe, which appears good, but is much too flat, with hard 

 eye, and very late. Many of the remaining sixteen have very much 

 altered their position. Annie Salter being first favourite this time 

 last year, but which has disappointed almost every one, has been 

 flat and coarse, with nothing but its beautiful delicate tint to recom- 

 mend it ; it has, in many cases, been grown too strong, with too few 

 buds left on the plant ; we shall try it another- season in poor soil, 

 and take but little from it. Malvina, which was down very low 

 in the list, has been both constant and beautiful ; this was described 

 as requiring plenty of water, which has been confirmed by its com- 

 ing so much finer the past wet season than it did in 1852 : from two 

 plants we have never been without a good bloom when required. 

 The other varieties call for no special remark ; they may all be grown 

 again. Of the ten fancy varieties described in the same Number, 

 we shall discard two — Nancy and Lillyput van JBeyreuth ; the latter 

 produces a few pretty flowers late, but much too late for any useful 

 purpose, and is very small. The flower at the head of the list was 

 Gloire de Kain ; in this selection we were correct ; it is a beautiful 



