ON THE DETERIORATION OF THE DAHLIA. 59 



Now, this very flower went from ine to several persons this last 

 season, and has in every instance given great satisfaction, which I 

 can only suppose has occurred from the fact, that having from the 

 first had a large stock of it, I have never had occasion to work it 

 so extensively as others have done. 



As this is in a measure at least, after all, only conjecture, I must 

 protest against such attacks as are made on several writers in your 

 miscellany, as I conceive it is out of such conjectures, fairly 

 argued, the truth will he elicited ; and I helieve it is an axiom 

 generally acknowledged, that invective is a never-failing sign of a 

 bad argument. 



I will just observe to some inquirers about Levick's Incompa- 

 rable, that I have seen several instances of success in developing 

 the spots, by pulling off the self-coloured flowers immediately they 

 show themselves to be such, when a course of tipped flowers gene- 

 rally succeeds them. At the same time, Mr. Levick is perfectly 

 correct in his statement, that luxuriant giants are generally self- 

 coloured : and, therefore, all manure should be avoided, at least 

 until the plant shows itself to be in colour, when it may be applied 

 at the top. 



The luxuriant growth may be much retarded, by treading the 

 ground round the plant very firm, if it begins to grow too freely. 



So much for Dahlias : and now I beg to state to Mr. Revell 

 and Innovator, that I have tried with success Mr. R.'s plan of 

 puddling the soil in which I inserted my pipings of Pinks ; I con- 

 ceive the great loss frequently occurring is occasioned by the 

 minute drops of moisture, which will, in spite of all efforts, remain 

 in the hearts of the piping ; by his plan the soil settles as closely 

 as possible about them in a few hours, and the necessity of watering 

 is avoided, which I consider a great advantage. 



Mr. Reveli., however, may speedily convince himself that the 

 Pink is to be grown exceeding thirteen inches in circumference, 

 if he will try Tate's William the Fonrth, a flower raised by Mr* 

 Tate, near Islington Church, from the seed of Ford's Victory, I 

 believe; which lias, however, in my opinion at least, hardly any 

 other properly than its rhondtrotfa size to recommend it. 



I conclude by congratulating you on the improvement in your 

 work, which I much admire, and which 1 am happy to hear suc- 

 ■ . ..I-- 10 well. \ I RTI mni-s 



London, Dec. lift, 1833. 



