* ON THE CULTURE OF THE DAHLIA. 



About the middle of the month of March I consider is the 

 best time to begin propagating the Dahlia ; take your roots, 

 otherwise tubers, and insert them in pots according to the size 

 »f your tubers, so that they have about an inch and a half or two 

 inches clear around them ; then take some fine light mould, 

 (taking care to have an inch or two of potsherds at the bottom of 

 your pots, to give good drainage) say one half leaf mould, and 

 the rest kitchen garden earth, with a small portion of pand ad- 

 ded to it, incorporate them well together and fill your pots (after 

 having placed your tubers in them) taking care that the crowns 

 of the tubers are above the level of the soil, and place them in a 

 moderate hotbed till they have issued shoots two or three inches 

 in length. (If a whole frame be used, I would recommend about 

 three inches of sandy soil to be sifted over the dung, on which 

 the tubers are to be laid, and covered with similar soil, also tak- 

 ing care to leave the crown of the tuber above the level of the 

 soil, and also that the heat be not too violent, and when 

 watered, to sprinkle them with warm water.) At this time 

 have in readiness some pots eight inches in diameter, and 

 an equal quantity four inches in diameter, so as when the one- 

 is placed in the other, there shall be two inches distance or 

 thereabouts from circumference to circumference. After you 

 have got your pots ready, take care to have plenty of potsherds 

 to lay at the bottom, two inches of them will not be too many, 

 as it is very requisite, and a matter of great importance, to carry 

 off that superfluity of moisture which is occasioned by the too 

 frequent watering ; after having put your potsherds in, proceed 

 to put in your compost, let it be such as will not retain too much 

 wet, and on the contrary, such, as will imbibe a sufficiency of 

 moisture. 



I have found the following compost to be of great utility in the 

 propagation of the cuttings, namely, one half leaf mould, and the 

 remainder kitchen garden earth and sandy loam, in the proportion 

 of two of the former to one of the latter. After having placed corks 

 in the bottom of the smaller pots, so as to make them water tight, 

 put your compost into the larger pot, until the edge or rim of 

 the smaller pot when placed in it, shall become level with that 

 of the larger pot : after having done this, prepare yourself with 

 a sharp knife, and detach the shoots that are fit, that is when 

 they have attained the desired length, taking care to detach 

 them under a joint, or you may take them off by your hand, tak- 



