OS THE CULTURE OF THE ANOMATHECA CKUENTA. 101 



the hoops be covered at night with mats. Cuttings may also be 

 taken from the early struck ones ; but I would here observe that 

 plants raised from weak and lateral shoots, often produce single 

 and semi-double flowers. About the third week in May, plant 

 out the plants into the borders for blooming. To have a good 

 number of fine flowers, much depends on the situation and soil 

 which they are put into. The situation should be sheltered, but 

 not under, or even near, any tall trees ; for if they were so placed, 

 the plants would be tall and weak, and the flowers small. The 

 Dahlia is, in some degree, like the potatoe ; it does much the best 

 in a change of soil. If the plants arc grown year after year in the 

 same soil, without renewing it with fresh soil, the flowers will be 

 small and very imperfect. In some flower gardens there is a par- 

 ticular border allotted for the Dahlia, and which, perhaps, is more 

 suitable for them than any other in the garden; where this is the 

 case, dig out holes in the winter, about sixteen inches deep, and 

 the same in diameter, where each Dahlia is to be planted in the 

 following summer ; let the holes remain open till the frosty weather 

 is all over ; by so doing, the border will be purified ; then fill them 

 witli a mixture of half top spit loam, one-fourth peat, and one- 

 fourth road scrapings, with a little dung added. This should be 

 prepared in the winter. 



In planting the Dahlias, let their crowns be put two inches under 

 the surface] (which keeps their roots from drying in the summer, 

 and preserves their crowns from frost in the autumn) ; stake and 

 water them. When they begin to grow, cease to water till they 

 have formed their flower buds, then supply them well with water, 

 if the weather be dry, and once a week with manure water. By 

 i be above treatment there will be an abundance of fine flowers. 

 Towards the end of October take the roots up, pot the small and 

 choice ones into sandy soil, and pat the others into dry ehafl^ dry 

 sawdust, or dry sand ; they must be kept from frost. 



January, 1835. Wm. Denvek, 



ARTICLE III.— On the Culture of (he Anomatheca 

 omenta. Uy A. B. 



In compliance with your wish, I scud you a method of treating 



'bis delightful little plant, which with me lias been attended with 



