ARRANGEMENT IN GARDEN 57 



other vessel partly filled with water ; in this put the stalk 

 of each flower immediately it is cut. When this is done 

 the stems immediately become charged with water, and the 

 flowers open gradually, without having appreciably suffered 

 from the change involved in detaching them from the 

 plants. It is also important to remember that flowers pro- 

 duced by plants growing in soil that has been only mode- 

 rately enriched with manure will retain their freshness when 

 cut for a longer period than those obtained from beds or 

 borders that have been heavily manured. 



For beautifying the garden the usefulness of the paeony- 

 flowered Dahlias is generally admitted, and the question that 

 has to be considered is really their suitability for various 

 gardens and positions. Their robust habit renders them 

 of more value for large gardens than for those of modest 

 dimensions, but there is some diversity in the habit of the 

 varieties, and there need be no difficulty in making selections 

 suitable for both large and small gardens and for different 

 positions in either. Improvements have been effected since 

 the earlier introductions, not only in the form and colour 

 of the flowers but also in the habit of the plants. English 

 growers quickly recognised the desirability of a reduction 

 in the height of growth, and varieties have been introduced 

 that do not exceed 3 feet. Some of the varieties attain 

 a height of 6, 7, or 8 feet, and these are best suited for 

 associating with tall-growing hardy and other plants in 

 spacious borders. They may be arranged with the plants 

 or used for forming a background to them. In large, open 

 spaces the tall growers are singularly effective in beds of the 

 size equivalent to 10 or n feet in diameter, but it is 

 necessary to remember that if the position is much exposed 



