Hardy and Half-hardy Plants 33 



DAHLIAS FOR CUT FLOWERS. It cannot be said that the Dahlia 

 occupies a prominent position in our markets as cut flowers, though there 

 are types that are valuable for decorative work; the modern cactus 

 varieties, with their long narrow petals, are useless, for general work, as 

 they are much too soft and tender to pack or travel well. The older 

 types, such as Glare of the Garden, Cochineal, Constance, &c., are still 

 largely grown for cut-flower purposes because they are broader in the 

 petal, and harder altogether, and still hold their own over the newly 

 created soft and delicate types. Some of the decorative varieties of 

 newer origin will no doubt supplant the older forms when they are 

 better known. 



MARKET VARIETIES. The following are suitable varieties for market 

 work, as they are free-flowering, with good stems and plenty of substance 

 in the petals. No doubt the list might be largely increased, but these are 

 good typical subjects for the purpose. 



Kaiserin A. Victoria, white; Delice, rose pink; Jeanne Charmet, lilac pink; Papa 

 Charmet, crimson; Constance, white shaded pink; Henry Patrick, white; Glare of 

 the Garden, crimson -scarlet; Electric, yellow tipped white; Ideal, bronzy yellow; 

 Dainty, yellow overlaid pink; A. D. Stoop, rich crimson; Fred Grinstead, yellow, 

 speckled red; Pink Pearl, rosy pink; Amos Perry, rich scarlet; Jeannette, red 

 yellow; Countess of Lonsdale, salmon; Exquisite, apricot; Mary Service, heliotrope 

 shaded yellow; Thos. Parker, orange; Britannia, soft salmon; Mme van der Dael, 

 rosy pink; Grand Due Alexis, white tipped heliotrope; Souv. de G. Douzon, orange 

 red; Yellow Colosse, bright yellow. 



Any of the show and fancy and Pompon varieties afford good subjects 

 for market work. 



PRICES. The prices for plants naturally vary. They are sold in 

 Covent Garden as low as Is. per box of fifteen, plants all named, and 

 mostly purchased by the barrow men. As a general rule, stock true to 

 name is worth 12s. to 20s. per 100 wholesale, while more modern varieties 

 will make 20s. to 30s. per 100. The cut flowers are bunched in dozens, 

 in most cases for a cheap market trade. They are also packed in boxes 

 containing a gross of flowers. They are greatly in demand for harvest 

 festivals. 



INSECT PESTS. While the plants are still young they are often troubled 

 with greenfly, which should be eradicated at once, or deformed foliage 

 soon presents itself and spoils the sale of the plants. They are sometimes 

 attacked with thrips and even Red Spider; the last-named occurs through 

 keeping too dry an atmosphere, and can be avoided. In the ground the 

 plants are troubled with Aphis in dry weather, and if the stock be valuable 

 the plants should be sprayed. The Frog-hopper or Spittle-fly is often a 

 plague in the summer months, causing the plants to lose their tops. They 

 are best caught during the evening, when they are not quite so wary as 

 during the daytime. Earwigs are sure to be a pest in a dry season, and 



should be caught by any of the numerous devices adapted for the purpose. 

 Vo&. II. 18 



