GLADIOLUS AND DAHLIA 275 



crop of small conns in the fall. These may be stored for the 

 winter, like the other young corms, and, like them, many will 

 flower the second season, affording a great variety, and quite 

 likely some new and striking kinds. Those which do not flower 

 should be reserved for further trial. They often prove finer 

 than those first to flower. 



GLADIOLUS CHILDSII is the name under which is being sent out 

 a set of tall-growing varieties with very large flowers. Of 

 their merits the writer is not as yet prepared to speak per- 

 sonally. The Lemoine and Leichtlinii hybrids are interesting 

 and show some handsome forms, but on the whole are, per- 

 haps, not as desirable for general purposes as some other 

 varieties. 



DAHLIA. Of showy plants for the garden, there are none more 

 easily cultivated. The double or Show Dahlias require 

 only plenty of food and moisture, while the single and 

 other kinds, the writer has found, will grow and flourish in 

 almost any soil, and under any of the conditions ordinarily 

 met with in the garden. 



The various sorts may be grouped into five classes. The 

 Show Dahlia is the large familiar double-flowered type. The 

 Pompon or Bouquet Dahlias have smaller double flowers, 

 and dwarfer habit. The Cactus Dahlia has flowers with broad, 

 flat florets, which are somewhat twisted, giving them a charac- 

 teristic and striking appearance. It is a recent type. The 

 Single Dahlias have handsome single flowers of many brilliant 

 colors and styles of variegation. The Dwarf, or Bedding class, 

 is mainly single, and grows only 1 or 2 feet high. They 

 are very free of bloom and desirable for the purpose indicated 

 by their name. 



One objection to the old Dahlia was its lateness of bloom. 

 But by starting the roots early in a frame, or in boxes which 

 are covered up at night, the plants may be had in flower, 

 several weeks earlier than usual. They may be started in 

 April, or at least three weeks in advance of planting time. 

 Before, or shortly after starting the roots, they should be 

 divided with a stout knife so that a piece of old stem, with 

 a bud, will be attached to each tuber. These are then set in 

 the box in the moist earth. Little water will be required 

 till they start. When they begin shooting up, the plants 



