ON THE CULTURE OF THE DAHLIA. 29 



by the bod. This precaution is particularly necessary as the roots 

 begin to push shoots, for if not attended to, they will sustain much 

 injury, if they be not wholly destroyed. 



At this time, the bed should be occasionally moderately moist- 

 ened by a light line watering with water in a tepid state, but avoid 

 as much as possible wetting the growing shoots. Admit air in 

 the day time when the weather is favourable, by partly or wholly 

 removing the lights, (but not if the air is frosty), but be most 

 careful to replace them with the mat covering before night — for 

 one frost would annihilate every shoot, and thereby at once blight 

 the hopes of the Florist, and render a nullity all the attentions 

 previously bestowed. 



The shoots being advanced in growth to about three inches in 

 length, may be detached by means of a sharp knife, cutting through 

 the shoot immediately under the joint nearest the crown of the root. 

 In performing this, much caution is necessary not to remove or 

 injure any minute buds or eyes, which may be connected with the 

 lower leaves or base of the cutting, but insert it as under mentioned 

 just as it is cut off; for upon this mainly depends the perpetuation 

 of the plant as after alluded to. Insert these cuttings in pots 

 called sixties, filled with inch mellow sandy soil, and plunge the 

 pots nearly up to the rims in the bed ; which at this time must 

 be well shaded from the sun, and the covering of mats continued 

 at night, when the shoots will readily strike root, and if the bed be 

 much reduced in strength, apply linings or outer coatings of hot 

 dung to the frame, as observation may suggest and necessity 

 require. 



When sufficiently rooted and established, they may be removed 

 to a cold frame, the pots being placed on a good layer of ashes or 

 lime sittings, to prevent the access of worms, and the plants then 

 gradually inured lo the open air as prudence may dictate. if 

 they become pot-bound, that is, the pot filled with the matted 

 fibrous root before the time of planting, they should be shifted into 

 4m sized pots, which is the largest I would at all recommend un- 

 lets intended to be bloomed in pots. 



Instead of cutting off the shoots as above described, — if the 

 propagator requires but a limited supply of plants, or does not feel 

 a confidence in performing the work, or desirous of the trouble, — 

 be ma) allow the roots to remain until the shoots are a little mop,- 



