542 GARDEN MANAGEME^'T. 



When tlie seed-vessels begin to swell, the flower-stems stould be carefully 

 tied up, and watched until the seeds turn black ; I do not wait until the seed- 

 vessels burst, as many seeds in that case fall to the gi'ound, and are lost, but 

 take them off when mature, with a portion of the stem, which I insert in the 

 earth in a seed-pot, or pan, provided for their reception. I place them in a 

 north aspect, and the seeds, in due season, are shed, as it were, naturally, 

 into the pot of earth. I allow the seeds to harden for a month on the surface 

 before covering them half an inch deep with sandy soil. The soil should be 

 two-thirds pure loam and one-third sharp sand ; the drainage composed of 

 rough turfy soil. In October, I plunge the seed-pots in a cold frame facing 

 the south, and the young plants begin to appear in December and through- 

 out the winter, according to their kinds and the mildness of the weather. It 

 is needful, in their earliest stage, to look well after slugs and snails." 



1696. Dahlias. — These now, in Saptember and October, are in full beauty. 

 They are only half-hardy with us, since they cannot remain out our entire- 

 winter. Indeed, they are so susceptible of frost, that its first and mildest 

 attack is sure to spoil them ; for this reason, many persons who wish to pro- 

 long their flowering, plant dahlias in large pots, which they sink in the open 

 ground as long as there is no fear of frost, and remove to a cool house as soon 

 as November begins. Dahlias, however, do not do well when thus treated ; 

 for they love plenty of pure and fresh air, and will not produce their choicest 

 flowers without it. Look well to the plants in autumn, for they have two 

 great enemies to contend against. However, with a little care and attention, 

 they may be rendered tolerably secure. These enemies ai-e wind and 

 earwigs. 



1697. As both the foliage and flowers of dahlias are heavy, each separate 

 stem should be tied to a stake fixed firmly into the ground. These stakes, if 

 painted green, may be so managed, with a Httle contrivance, as hardly to be 

 seen among the foliage. The first blossoms of dahlias often prove to be very 

 imperfect. When such is found to be the case, remove them at once, that 

 the whole strength of the plant may be given to the development of the better- 

 formed buds. Earwigs are especially fond of the flowers of dahhas, and, not- 

 withstanding all his care, frequently cause great disappointment to the 

 grower. They should be trapped or destroyed in any and every way that 

 can be thought of. Perhaps the most effectual mode of getting rid of these 

 troublesome invaders is to hang small pieces of hollow stalk — bean-stalks- 

 for instance — among the foliage and along the stems. These will act as 

 refuges for the earwigs, which may be emptied out of them two or three 

 times a day into boiling water, and in this way destroyed. Tha dahlia 

 has had a lai-ge amount of the florist's care and skill bestowed upon it. 

 It is certainly a gay flower in autumn ; but whether it is worthy of all the 

 attention it has received, may well be made a question. Dahlia-roots 

 must not be taken out of the ground until the tubers are well ripened, — 

 November is the time. They should then have all mould well shaken 

 from them, and be hung up to dry gradually in any convenient shed or 



