DAHLIAS AND THEIR TREATMENT. 39 



when the water is withheld the plants suffer from the change. If the 

 dahlias are to be watered, the ground should be mulched with coarse litter 

 of some kind, or sea-weed ; this will better retain the moisture, and will 

 prevent the earth around the plants from becoming hardened. Syringing 

 the tops with soft water is of advantage ; let it always be done in the even- 

 ing ; care should be taken not to use very cold water. 



Selecting Blooms for Exhibition. 

 This is often a difficult task to the most experienced, and often one or 

 more points have to be sacrificed. To my mind, diversity of color should 

 be a matter of attention, with, of course, a due regard to form and size. A 

 stand of flowers of similar colors never shows as well as one where some 

 attention has been given to a selection of dissimilar varieties. The general 

 rule, as before laid down, is, form before anything ; next, color, which 

 should be bright and clear; and, lastly, size. The blooms should never be 

 handled or exposed to rough usage more than necessary, as the dead ap- 

 pearance thus produced can never be removed. 



Fancy Dahlias. 



These have lately become popular, as many very fine varieties have been 

 produced. Miss Church, Loveliness, Lady Popham, and many others are 

 quite as fine as any of the selfs ; they are perfect gems, and creditable to 

 any stand of show blooms. 



It seems to me that the best effect is produced when the two classes are 

 exhibited in the same stand ; the contrast is pleasing, and each cause the 

 other to appear to greater advantage. 



Degeneration. 



A double flower being a monstrosity, there is always more or less tend- 

 ency to revert to the primal state. With dahlias this disposition is particu- 

 larly marked. It has always been my practice to keep a good old variety, 

 if possible, till a better of its color or shade was produced ; yet among a 

 collection of 250 not more than five, new five years ago, can now be found. 



A striped or mottled or other fancy dahlia will often produce self-colored 

 flowers, and all, both fancies and selfs, will in time so far run out as to pro- 

 duce single self-colored flowers. 



Seedlings 



Are grown largely by florists in England and on the Continent. Much 

 attention has been given to hybridization during the last fifty years; but, as 

 in other plants, many of the seedlings are worthless, and most not superior 

 to those already grown. About six very fine seedlings in a thousand is con- 

 sidered good success. 



These fine dahlias, when brought to this country, are often worthless, 

 producing poor flowers on account of the difference of the climate. 



In this country very few good seedlings have been produced, probably 

 because there is less attention paid to hybridization, and no encouragement 

 is offered by our Horticultural Societies. 



