THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 75 
and as they differ in character from the ordinary run of bedding 
plants, they afford a most pleasing variety, and are very effective. It 
is, however, as border flowers where they are seen to the best advan- 
tage, for in conjunction with the herbaceous phloxes, tiger lilies, 
tritomas, hollyhocks, and gladioli, they make a grand display, sur- 
passing in richness the best combination of sub-tropical plants that 
are within the reach of amateurs. 
__Ifit is desired to work up a stock in the cheapest manner pos- 
sible, a few dry roots should be obtained, and at once placed in a 
temperature of about 60° to start them into growth. The pot roots 
as usually supplied from nurseries are of very little service to the 
amateur, for owing to their having been kept throughout the pre- 
vious summer in little pots, they are of so small a size that they 
cannot produce many shoots, and very often, unless they are 
assisted with a brisk bottom-heat, they will not break at all. There- 
fore unless strong roots, lifted from the borders last autumn, can be 
procured, it will be better to wait until young plants, costing from 
three to six shillings per dozen, can be obtained. These can usually 
be had about the 1st of May. 
For the information of those who are able to obtain from friends 
or otherwise a few roots of the right kinds, I will briefly point out 
the way by which a comparatively large number of plants may be 
obtained from each. The information will probably be also of 
service to some of the readers who have a few roots of their own 
growth. First of all, place the roots in shallow boxes, with a layer 
of some light soil underneath, and fill the space between them with 
the same kind of soil, and put them in a pit or house where they 
will have the assistance of the temperature already mentioned. To 
allow of as many roots as possible being arranged in each box, and 
thus economize space, cut the ends of the roots off. Provided 
the soil is maintained in a nice moist state, the young shoots pro- 
ceeding from the cluster of buds round the base of the old stem will 
soon make their appearance. These, when from three to four inches 
ia length, must be taken off and put singly into small pots, filled 
with some light sandy soil. Experienced propagators usually allow 
them to attain a length of six inches or so, and take them off above 
the first pair of leaves, as they are then able to obtain a second batch 
of cuttings; but owing to the succulence of the cuttings, a brisk 
temperature and some skili are necessary to secure success. 
But by removing them when of the length mentioned, with a very 
small slice of the old root to form a firm base, they can be struck 
without the aid of bottom-heat, and with very little risk of their 
damping off. If it is desired to obtain from two to three plants 
only from each root, they should be taken out of the box and split 
into two or three pieces; each portion to have one shoot and a part 
of the old root, and be put into a pot proportionate to its size. With 
the assistance of a genial warmth, they will soon become established, 
and commence to make a vigorous growth. , 
Dahlias must not be kept in the propagating pit, or indeed any 
warm, close structure, longer than is necessary, because of their 
liability to become drawn when in a temperature in excess of their 
March. 
