1873.] FLORIST FLOWERS. 67 



keeping kinds. Grafting is usually performed in the autumn ; but it is scarcely 

 worth while discussing the subject under this head further, my main object 

 being to assist the novice, — and the instructions already offered are the most 

 suitable. 



General Management. — The Dahlia delights in rich and abundant feeding, 

 coupled with a bed of deep rather light soil, properly drained. Eotten old turf is 

 the best of soils for the Dahlia, adding, of course, a sufficiency of manure to make 

 it rich. The ground should be well trenched in autumn, and thrown up into rough 

 ridges, so that frost may act upon it. In April have the ground forked over 

 again, after overspreading its surface with a light covering of well-reduced cow- 

 raanure. Divide the allotted ground into beds of 4 or 5 feet, with a narrow path 

 between each bed. In the last week of May, or early in June, plant about 5 feet 

 apart along the centre of each bed, and be careful to preserve the balls entire in 

 planting. After planting, give each plant a good watering, which should 

 be repeated twice a- week afterwards should dry weather succeed the planting. 

 Syringe overhead in the evening after dry hot days; support each leader by an 

 upright neat stake, and tie as the shoot advances ; and subsequently, when side 

 branches are produced, select four of the strongest that are at convenient distances 

 from each other to form a uniform plant ; put a stout stake to each of these, and 

 cut the remaining shoots away. When superior flowers are the object, pinch out 

 all the lateral shoots which appear on the permanent growths, and thin the 

 flower-buds less or more, according to the habit of the variety : some are more 

 rampant than others in their growth, and more prolific in flowers, and they 

 should be thinned accordingly. As soon as summer heat sets in, all the beds 

 should be covered to the depth of 3 or 4 inches with rich cow-manure ; 

 and should this be ofi*ensive to the eye, cover it with a little soil. As the 

 flowers advance in size and formation, let the plants have plenty of moderately 

 strong liquid manure once a- week. When flowers are wanted for exhibition, it 

 is scarcely necessary to say anything about the essential shades to protect them 

 from sun, rain, and wind. Nothing is better than an inverted flower-pot 

 placed over the flower on the sliding piece of board which acts as a table or 

 support for the chosen flowers. 



Earwigs are the devouring pest of the Dahlia, and many are the schemes 

 adopted for their destruction. Nothing is better than scattering pieces of the 

 stalks of Beans or Hemlock around the plants. This, and inverting small pots 

 with a little dry moss in them over the points of the stakes, allure the 

 enemy : these traps ought to be examined each morning. The hunter should be 

 provided with a pail of hot water, into which to blow the earwigs out of the 

 tubes, and drop them out of the jiots. By this means these insects may be kept 

 under in gardens generally, although, where the ground is wholly sand, there 

 they may be found in tens of thousands, hanging about the walls, resembling 

 hives of bees broken into detachments. Of course, it would be useless to 

 attempt the culture of Dahlias where strong plants of Verbenas disappear in a 

 night. 



PREPARING FOR AXD PROTECTING THE BOOTS DURING WINTER. 



When frost has cut down the plants, they should at once be cut over within 

 a few inches of the ground. Have all their names secured to the stem by means 

 of wire, and then take them carefully up with a fork, preserving their roots 

 entire; place them closely together — stems downward— in baskets, so that the 

 tubers may be well exposed to dry in the sun. This will also assist the escape 

 of any juice issuing from the cut in the stem. In a few days the roots may be 



