THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 161 



RAMONDIA PYRENAICA. 



HIS beautiful Alpine, which is found growing in the 

 Piedmontese Alps, aud on the rocks of the Pyrenees, is 



the only species of its genus, which was formerly called 

 Yerbasctim Miconi. The flower-stems, which spring 

 from the dense dark green leaves, bear each from one 

 to six flowers, of a pinkish-lilac colour. The plant, which is a 

 perennial, commences to bloom about the beginning of May, and a 

 succession of bloom is usually maintained for a considerable time. 

 Its dwarf habit of growth renders it very suitable for the front rows 

 of flower borders ; the soil in which it best thrives is moist peat, 

 mixed with sandy loam. The method of propagation is either by 

 seed or division of the roots. 



DAHLIA CULTURE. 



AVING got the first lot of plants with names and colours, 

 arrange them so that no two colours of the same class 

 come together. Put violet next yellow, purple next 

 orange, and white to relieve any colour as to the con- 

 trast for which you may be in doubt. The arrangement 

 of dahlias is of more importance than the arrangement of any 

 class of flowei'S, because of their boldness of colour, and the extent 

 to which those colours may be heightened by proper contrasts. The 

 border or bed for dahlias should be of good hazelly loam, abundantly 

 manured, and should be prepared long before the plants are put out, 

 injuBttbe same way as directed for hollyhocks. Before planting, 

 which should be done when the ground is moderately dry, tread the 

 earth firm, then press the pot down into the place where the plant 

 is to be, and if you can make a place to receive the plant without 

 using a trowel, all the better; if not, take out a little earth with a 

 trowel and plunge the pot to the rim, and bed it in firmly. Then take 

 the pot out of the hole, into which it has thus been made to fit, turn 

 it upside-down and the edge a slight tap on the barrow, and the ball 

 will come out clean, and may be turned over into the hole without 

 damaging a single fibre. This is the best way of turning every kind 

 of plant out of a pot, but is particularly to be recommended in 

 planting dahlias, because of the tenderness of their roots when 

 young. 



Whatever the kind of soil in which dahlias are planted, it must 

 be well manured — a good spadeful of rotten dung to every plant, and 

 another spadeful on the surface to keep the roots moist. I use none 

 but iron stakes for dahlias, hollyhocks, etc. ; they are neater, cleaner, 

 and last for ever, if their feet are brushed over with melted pitch, 

 and the remaiuder of the rods painted. If wood stakes are used 

 they should be of oak, and it is best to place three to each plant, and 



June. 11 



