CHAP, vm.] DAHLIA. 247 



tion; and it is, perhaps, for this reason that 

 they are required to be as different from the 

 same flowers in their natural state as possible. 

 Thus the dahlia, being a composite flower, has 

 in its natural state a yellow centre, like the 

 daisy ; but, in the varieties now grown by 

 florists, if the central or disk florets are seen, 

 they are considered to disqualify the flower 

 from contending for a prize. In D. coccinea 

 and its varieties, these disk florets are the only 

 ones that bear seeds; but in D. variabilis and 

 all its numerous progeny the florets of the ray 

 are fertile. 



The root of the dahlia consists of five or six 

 carrot-shaped tubers, springing from a common 

 centre called the crown or collar, and round 

 which are produced the buds, or eyes, as gar- 

 deners call them. When the root is out of the 

 ground these eyes are scarcely visible ; but as 

 soon as the root is planted they begin to swell, 

 and each sends up a stem. The tubers are, of 

 course, furnished with numerous fibres, which 

 are the true roots of the plant, and through 

 which alone it derives its nourishment from the 

 ground. 



The best soil for dahlias is a sandy loam, not 

 too rich : as in rich or moist soils the plant will 

 produce more stalks and leaves than flowers. 

 Where the soil of the garden in which dahlias 

 are to be planted is rich or heavy, a quantity of 

 sand or gravel should be mixed with it. Striped 

 or variegated flowers will soon lose their mark- 

 inos if orown in rich soil. The tubers of the 

 early kinds are planted in April, to flower m 



