504 THE GARDENER. [Nov. 



sitting-room. It was contended that " the roots, in short, require to be 

 only kept from heat, frost, and wet;" and to those who had hitherto 

 failed to preserve their roots during winter, the following piece of 

 advice was tendered : " To let the roots dry the same as they would a 

 bulb or a pod of seed before they are stored, for if put away damp 

 there is great danger of the rot." 



Now for a more modern, but in our own experience as well, thor- 

 oughly successful, mode of wintering the roots of the Dahlia : " Select 

 a dry day for getting them up, cut the tops clean off to within an inch 

 of the crown with a small saw, lay the roots on some sticks or flattened 

 boughs, so placed in the ground that the air can pass through them, 

 with the neck downwards, and with as much soil in the tubers as will 

 remain after they have been poked with a small stick, which is the 

 best tool to remove the soil with. If the weather is fine and dry, the 

 roots may be removed to their winter quarters in three days, care hav- 

 ing been taken that they have been covered with mats at night, and 

 the covering taken off each morning. The floor of a greenhouse I con- 

 sider the most suitable place in which to keep them during the winter; 

 or, if the grower does not possess a greenhouse, a dry cellar will answer 

 the purpose, or any room where frost will not penetrate. A little 

 ventilation is always necessary to prevent mould. When valuable 

 roots, such as seedlings or other scarce kinds, are required to be 

 kept in plump condition for early forcing, I would recommend that 

 they be taken up from the ground with all the soil that can be lifted 

 with them, and that they be at once placed in large pots in a dry place." 



The writer of these valuable directions (Mr C. J. Perry of Castle 

 Bromwich) also alludes in a somewhat amusing style to an error some- 

 times committed by growers — " that of drying the roots too much. 

 Many a time," he says, " have I seen them suspended in some coach- 

 house or loft, until nearly all the juices have been dried out of them. 

 They were then consigned to a warm room, where no frost could 

 penetrate, and by the time they were required for propagating, half 

 the tubers were as dry as old sticks." 



A great deal depends on properly drying the roots previous to stow- 

 ing them away : they should never be dried up so as to present a 

 shrivelled appearance, but merely the surface of the tubers dried, and 

 the stems cut off as recommended. None of the greener portion of the 

 stem should be left, as it would certainly decay during winter, and 

 endanger the crown, which is the portion of the root most necessary to 

 be preserved. Those who have a greenhouse can keep the roots well 

 under the stage, which is a good place for the purpose, excepting only 

 that they usually give a slovenly appearance to the house, which ought 

 always to be a picture of neatness. 



