THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 97 



THE DAHLIA. 



EGrARDED from the florist's point of view, the Dahlia is 

 one of the grandest flowers of the garden, and in rank 

 must be placed second only to the rose. When required 

 to form the background of a plantation, intermixed 

 with hollyhocks, aconites, and other tall-growing plants, 

 it is only necessary to put out in the common soil roots that have 

 been stored in sand the first week in May, or wait until the first 

 week in June, and then put out young plants that have been care« 

 fully hardened in a frame. The bouquet dahlias are especially 

 valuable for the mixed border, because their comparatively small 

 flowers are produced in great profusion, and they are more useful as 

 cut-flowers than those of the exhibition class. When the frost has 

 cut down the plants, the roots should be taken up with a few inehes 

 of the stem attached as a handle, and be stored away in sand in a 

 loft or some other cool dry place. To grow the dahlia with a view 

 to the production of fine flowers, something more must be done than 

 this rude code requires. The roots are started into growth on a hot- 

 bed or over a tank in a warm greenhouse in March, and if a large 

 stock is required, the shoots are taken off and struck in heat as fast 

 as they can be obtained. But if only a few good plants are wanted, 

 the first lot of shoots are broken off and thrown away, and the 

 second lot are struck; these making better plants than the first. 

 They must be kept growing freely in the fashion of bedding plants, 

 and be hardened off in like manner for planting out. The plantation 

 should be made on a piece of ground that was prepared for the 

 purpose in the previous November, by trenching and manuring. It 

 should lie open to the south, but have the shelter of trees from the 

 north. A shady or confined spot will not do. It is a common 

 mistake to plant early in order to obtain extra growth and early 

 flowers. Early planting is a needless exposure of the plants to a 

 thousand baneful influences. The first week in June is the proper 

 time to plant, but some time in May, and the sooner the better, the 

 plot should be planted with lettuces, aud these should be constantly 

 hunted for vermin. The proper way to plant is to open holes five 

 feet apart, and dig in some good rotten manure to a depth of two 

 feet. Then plant carefully, filling in round the plant with fine earth, 

 and drive down a strong stake behind the plant about four inches 

 distant from it. Finally drive in two shorter and lighter stakes in 

 front of the plant, about eighteen inches distant from the stake in 

 the rear, to form a triangle. As soon as the plant is tall enough tie 

 it to the main stake, and pass the matting on either side of the plant 

 to the stakes in front to form a sort of cage. The farther tying will 

 be a very simple matter. In dry weather copious supplies of water 

 must be giveu, and by the middle of July the roots should be 

 mulched with good half-rotten manure. The earwig will now begin 

 to make its mark on the plants, and must be trapped. For this 

 purpose there is nothing to equal small flower-pots, each containing 



April. 7 



