157 



nilles in his Icones; but the plant called Rosea by Mr. Thouin in ihe 

 Annales, is most probably the very variety of the first species figured 

 by die name of Sambucifolia in the Paradisus Londinensis. 



3. Coccinea, Scarlet. This is figured in Curtis's publication; but 

 we entertain a doubt if it is the same with Cavanilles's plant, if the 

 colour is well copied. The plant, we understand, is dead. 



4. Crocata, Saffron-coloured. This plant is not mentioned in 

 any work previous to the Paradisus Londinensis, where it is figured 

 and described by the name of Bidentifolia. Though the parcels of 

 seeds which came from Cavanilles himself had the title of Crocata, 

 the flowers turned out yellow. 



It is not intended here to describe minutely these plants; it is 

 sufficient to say, that they elevate themselves majestically like the 

 Holy-hock, and bear both axillary and terminal showy flowers late 

 in the autumn. 



Culture. The first Dahlias introduced into England were lost by 

 taking too much care of them. As they are natives of the hilly parts 

 of Mexico, they will thrive in the open ground very well, and accus- 

 tom themselves in a very few generations to ripen seeds here an- 

 nually. By giving the history of those plants which have grown in 

 the gardens of Holland-House, Kensington, it is only meant to offer 

 hints for their culture, leaving the rest to future experience and ob- 

 servation. 



On the 20th of May, 1804, the Right Honourable Lady Holland 

 sent home from Spain a parcel of seeds. Though so late in ihe sea- 

 son, part of them were sown in pots in a hot-bed, and among these 

 was the Dahlia Pinnata, with a wrong name on the parcel. When 

 the plant was about fourteen inches high, it was planted in the open 

 ground and grew luxuriantly, pushing up several stems to the height 

 of seven and eight feet. The Coccinea and Crocata, the seeds of 

 which also came up, but did not grow so full. In the middle of 

 September the first flowers appeared, by which the plant was known 

 to belhe Pinnata of Cavanilles, and it was figured by Mr. Andrews 

 the same year. The seeds did not ripen, and the roots were taken 



