THE DAHLIA. 



THE DAHLIA {Dahlia sjiperflna).—\\x GRATITUDE 

 EXCEEDS YOUR CaRE. 



This favourite florist's flower, named in honour of Dahl, 

 a Swedish botanist, is well known to every lover of Flora's 

 subjects. It seems to have been imported into France 

 about 1789, and its cultivation was nearly confined to that 

 country until the peace of 18 14. Then it was dispersed 

 over Germany, Prussia, and Denmark ; and found its Avay into 

 England, where it soon became an object of great care and 

 emulation, as well as a fruitful source of profit to the florist. 

 Being" a native of the verv hot climate of Mexico, it was 

 treated as if too tender for the comparatively cold climate of 

 P^urope ; soon its constitution was tested in the greenhouse, 

 and subjected there to an abundant supply of air ; it was 

 thus acclimatized by degrees, until it flourished in some 

 localities for eight months, from the beginning of July to 

 the end of February, in the open air of sunny France. 

 Not less hardy is it, proportionately, in dear England, but 

 here, so soon as the nights of Autumn become frosty, the 

 beauty of its flowers fades, its herbaceous leaves and stems 

 perish, and the tubers require to be exhumed and stored 

 away as experience has taught the cultivator, if we would 

 keep the living principle undestroyed until the succeeding 

 spring. Martin has written of the Dahlia's endurance of 

 various climates, thus : — 



"Though severed from its native clime, 

 Where skies arc ever bright and clear, 

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