"348 GARDEN MANAGEMENT. 



their bloom. Darker flowers, on the contrary, lose much of their brilliancy if 

 •too much shaded ; they should, therefore, only be shaded partially from the 

 direct rays of the meridian sun. 



986. In October, Flora's reign is almost over, and even the dahlia is about 

 •to succumb. Now is the time to revise the names, and see that they are all 

 correct : that seed from such as it is desired to propagate from is secured 

 before they are injured by the frost. Provide also against severe weather 

 ■coming in suddenly, by drawing the earth round the stems in a conical form, 

 which will protect the roots from frost while they are yet in a growing state, 

 as well as diminish the moisture which encourages growth. Even in November, 

 in mild seasons, the dahlia will remain fresh and gay if the weather is open and 

 • clear ; but in general the earlier flowers will have passed away : their time of 

 rest is come. When the frost tunas their foliage brown or black, take them 

 tip, cut off the roots, leaving six inches or so of stem attached, and plunge them 

 into a box of ashes, chaff", or sand, or any other method of preserving them 

 from damp, frost, and heat, during the winter, 



987. As to giving a list of dahlias, when it is considered that the eight or 

 ten winners of prizes at the national dahlia-shows must exhibit upwards of 

 160 varieties, it will be obviously vain for us to attempt furnishing one. We 

 may state, however, that Mr. Turner, of the Royal Nursery, Slough, has 

 repeatedly carried off the great prizes for fifty dissimilar varieties, as well as 

 for fancy varieties : it is pretty clear, therefore, that he can supply his 



. customers with the very best selection possible. 



§ 2. — The Hollyhock {A Ithcea rosea). 



988. There is no finer ornament of the autumnal flower-garden than the 

 Hollyhock : its noble tapering spike-like stem and rich rosettes of flowers 

 clustering round the footstalks of the leaves, and its pannacled head and luxu- 

 riant massive leaves, render it the most effective occupant of a gap in the 

 shrubbery, or in the back row of an herbaceous border, or even in rows in 

 the flower-garden, or in beds by themselves, their variety of colour renders 

 them most attractive objects. The drawback to its perfection, for many 

 years after its first introduction, was the coarse habit of growth and the 

 -thin transparent flower-petals, which gave a flimsy appearance to its con- 

 ■A'olute flowers, and their eariy decay. Much of this objectionable habit 

 has been overcome by the perseverance of the growers, and the noble 

 •nlant is now produced in a manner which approximates to the properties 

 claimed for it even by the fastidious Mr. Glenny. Under the careful hand of 

 skilful culture, the petals have become thicker, and, consequently, the colour is 

 more dense and decided, the centre of the flowers better defined individually, 

 -while foi-ming a denser spike of flowers from within a foot of the ground to the 

 • summit of the stem. 



989- Propagating hy Seeds.— The seed of the hollyhock should be gathered 

 only from the most perfect plants, in which the flowers have been round, 

 the florets thick and smooth on the edge, the colour dense and decided. 



