PLANTING POMPONS 51 



strength of the plants when put out, and the character of the 

 season. Strong plants that have been grown on in 5-inch 

 pots will come into bloom two or three weeks in advance 

 of those which are kept throughout in 3-inch pots, and 

 there will be much the same difference in the time of 

 flowering between plants growing in moderately rich and 

 heavily manured soils. They are highly effective grown 

 in beds in open positions, and planted about 30 inches 

 apart ; but they probably appear to the greatest advantage 

 when judiciously associated with hardy and other plants 

 in the mixed border. In borders they may be arranged in 

 groups of three plants of one variety or singly. The 

 groups and plants should be from 7 to 10 feet apart as 

 may be preferred, and so arranged they are of immense 

 value for maintaining the attractions of borders after the 

 hardy plants flowering early in the summer have lost much 

 of their beauty. 



Although not largely grown by amateurs with gardens of 

 comparatively small size, this type of Dahlia is especially 

 adapted to their requirements. Dwarf in growth and free in 

 flowering, the plants thrive in the conditions that obtain in 

 and near towns, and it is surprising that amateurs who are 

 interested in Dahlias, but from an insufficiency of space 

 are unable to cultivate the show and cactus varieties with 

 success, do not grow and show the pompons. 



There is no occasion, whether in town or country, to 

 make strenuous endeavour to obtain blooms of the largest 

 possible size. For a considerable period this was done, and 

 blooms were sometimes staged that suggested show blooms 

 grown in ordinary conditions ; but the practice has changed, 

 and perfection of form and proper development of colour 



