8 ON OBTAINING AN EARLY BLOOM OF DAHLIAS. 



ful to notice whether its situation be fully exposed to the solar rays, 

 or wholly or partially shaded ; and as far as is in your power, when 

 you get it home, give it the"same soil and aspect. If you attend to 

 these simple directions, I have no doubt but you will succeed in pro- 

 curing a splendid collection of good habited and constant flowers ; 

 and only make up your mind never to bloom your plants more than 

 one season, but strike cuttings from them for the next year's blooming, 

 and throw the old stools away ; then, and only then, you will con- 

 tinue to maintain a healthy, handsome, and strong blooming col- 

 lection. 



ARTICLE IIT. 



ON OBTAINING AN EARLY BLOOM OF DAHLIAS. 



BY lilt, CAREY TYSO, WALLINGFORD, BERKS. 



The continuance of Dahlias in bloom during the past season was 

 unusually short — grievously and disappointingly short to those who 

 had speculated in new flowers at large prices, many of which had 

 not even time to display their imperfections. If the circumstances 

 had only affected one class of flowers, it were little to be lamented ; 

 but true it was that one event happened to all, and many excellent 

 varieties were suddenly arrested while unfolding their beauties to 

 their admiring possessors. 



The brevity of the flowering season was the result of two causes — 

 a late beginning and an early termination. In consequence of the 

 long drought experienced in some parts of the country in the months 

 of May, June, and July, the plants were very slow in growth, and the 

 flowers very late; and an early and severe frost (September 18th*) 

 suddenly terminated the season. Seeing it was the result of natural 

 agency, over which man possesses little control, we cannot expect to 

 exempt ourselves from a similar visitation in future. As, however 

 the baneful influence of dry weather is more easily prevented or 

 ameliorated than that of frost, the cultivator should direct his efforts 

 to the production of earlier blossoms than attempt to prolong them. 



* It is worthy of remark, that the frost on the morning of this day was not 

 universally felt ; and though the thermometer stood at '29° Fahrenheit, in a 

 sheltered situation, the effects were hardly perceptible at places thirty milts 

 distant. 



