ON AN ORNAMENTAL ARRANGEMENT OF THE DAHLIA, ETC. 83 



them manure water about once in a week. The way I make it is, to 

 about a half a peck of horse or cow dung, or I believe that of sheep 

 to be still better, I put eight gallons of water, and stir it well up in a 

 tub, it is immediately fit for use ; this should be applied with caution, 

 and should the spring prove frosty I would by no means use manure 

 water, I have sometimes thought it has a tendency to rot the plants. 

 In watering I use a can which holds about three quarts, with spouts 

 of various lengths to take off at pleasure, rounded at the ends. The 

 advantage of this turn is that I can water my plants without splashing 

 over the leaves. 



L. How much water do you give at a time ? 



Inf. Just sufficient to cover the surface of the soil equally ; in wa- 

 tering my plants, I always fancy I am giving a sort of meal to them, 

 which they must consume without surfeiting. However, the great 

 art of watering in the spring consists in keeping the soil moist with 

 out being too wet. 



(To be continued.) 



ARTICLE III. 



ON AN ORNAMENTAL ARRANGEMENT OF THE DAHLIA, ETC. 



BY MK. JAMES M'MILLAN, 

 OAHDENER TO C. VP. NEWMAN, ESQ., OAK LEIGH, NORTHWICH, CHESHIRE. 



I feel much pleasure in tendering to you my thanks for the valuable 

 information, both of a theoretical and practical nature, which I have 

 received from the perusal of your deservedly esteemed Floricultural 

 Cabinet. 



The Dahlia is now considered one of the most fashionable peren- 

 nials that embellish and adorn our gardens, and the beauty of the 

 flowers has drawn such attention to their cultivation that they have 

 almost attained perfection. But the effect of the most lovely Dahlia 

 is sometimes spoiled from the position which it occupies, and the 

 tasteless manner in which it is disposed. 



In detailing the following method of setting off the Dahlia, I do 

 not dogmatically assert its superiority over every other method, but 

 only that it forms a pleasing variety and contrast which can be occa- 

 sionally resorted to. 



