MISCELLANEOUS. 229 



Being very little conversant with flowers, 

 as to their varieties, culture, &c., I merely 

 mention a circumstance with regard to the 

 dahlia, which strikes me as a great improve- 

 ment in that universal favourite. The flower 

 of the dahlia is doubtless a magnificent dis- 

 play of beauty and variety ; but, from the 

 quantity of coarse green leaves, and the height 

 of the plant, it never appears to me to form 

 agreeably in a bed either alone or mixed with 

 other flowers. A person mentioned to me 

 his having seen it produce a splendid appear- 

 ance from each plant being pegged down 

 when about a foot high ; and thus covering 

 the whole bed with flowers. I merely repeat 

 what I was told, not having had any oppor- 

 tunity of seeing the effect. 



As a solid walk is in all cases an essential 

 comfort, and gravel in many places difficult 

 to procure, the following method of supply- 

 ing that want may be serviceable as a sub- 

 stitute for that useful article. As in the 

 instance of the dahlia, I only repeat what 

 was told me, never having seen the experi- 

 ment tried. 



To make paths quite hard : — Rough gravel, 

 or broken stone, at bottom, about three inches 



Q 3 



