DOUBLE DAHLIA. 77 



As some amateurs are apt to fancy that the most economi- 

 cal method of obtaining a supply of Dahlias in their gardens, 

 is to rWise them from seed, it may be necessary to remind 

 such, that the trouble and expense of raising any quantity 

 of seedlings, is equal to that attending the cultivation of the 

 same number of the choicest varieties ; and when it is con- 

 sidered that the greatest proportion of a plantation may be 

 single, and semi-double, and that but few double flowering 

 plants can be expected, equal to those above described, it 

 must appear evident that it is the interest of such persons as 

 desire to have their gardens unencumbered with plants that 

 are not calculated to ornament the same, to procure plants 

 or roots of such varieties as have been tested, and highly 

 recommended, as is the case with all those described in the 

 preceding Catalogue, and also those which are generally sold 

 by the regular florists. But as I am writing for young gar- 

 deners, it may be necessary to state, that although new varie 

 ties are usually raised from seed of the finest double flowers, 

 some successful propagators prefer that procured from semi 

 double varieties. Sow seed toward the end. of February, 

 or early in March, in pots, and plunge them in a moderate 

 not-bed, or seed may be deposited in the earth of the beds, 

 m shallow drills, and the beds attended to as directed in the 

 Calendar for February and March. 



Nothing is more simple than the cultivation of Dahlia 

 roots. In March or April, they will, if properly kept through 

 the winter, begin to sprout around the old stems and tubers. 

 To forward these sprouts in growth, the roots should either be 

 buried in light earth on the top of a moderate hot-bed, or 

 else potted, and then set in a warm room, or green-house, 

 and watered. As soon as the shoots have grown to the 

 length of two or three inches, the roots may be divided in 

 such a manner as to have a good strong shoot attached to a 

 piece of the tuber, or old stem ; each of these will, if pro- 

 peily managed, make a plant. Those who may commence 

 cultivating at an early season, should put the plants thus 



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