DAHLIA. 



145 



DAISY FORK. 



examine those tied up, slackening the 

 strings, where necessary, to prevent them 

 from being galled. Light coloured flowers 

 are confirmed in their beauty by seclusion 

 from sun and air while they are de- 

 veloping their bloom. Darker flowers, on 

 the contrary, lose much of their brilliancy 

 if too much shaded ; they should, there- 

 fore, only be shaded partially from the 

 direct rays of the meridian sun. 



Soil. Where dahlias are to fill a place 

 in the general arrangement of the garden 

 and shrubbery, care should be taken to 

 supply them with suitable soil. Peat 

 mould, mixed wi:h sand, is useful in de- 

 veloping stripes and spots on the flower. 



Management in Autumn. In October 

 it is necessary to revise the names, and see 

 that they are all correct ; and that seed, 

 which is to be saved for propagation, is 

 secured before it is injured by the frost. It 

 is desirable, also, to provide against any 

 sudden and unexpected arrival of severe 

 weather, by drawing the earth round the 

 stems in a conical form, which will protect 

 the roots from frost while they are yet in 

 a growing state, as well as diminish the 

 moisture which encourages growth. Even 

 in November, in mild seasons, the dahlia will 

 remain fresh and gay if the weather is open 

 and clear ; but in general the earlier flowers 

 will have passed away, and their time for 

 rest will have come. When the frost turns 

 their foliage brown or black, take up the 

 plants and cut off the roots, leaving 6 inches 

 or so of stem attached ; then .plunge them 

 into a box of ashes, chaff, or sand, in order 

 to preserve them from damp, frost, and 

 heat, during the winter. 



Named Varieties. -The number of named 

 dahlias in cultivation is very large, but 

 collections may be obtained from any 

 nurseryman or grower. The dahlia was a 

 speciality of the late Mr. Charles Turner, 

 Royal Nursery, Slough, Bucks, and buyers 

 may there supply themselves with the very 



best selection possible, or they may get 

 them from Messrs. H. Cannell and Sons, 

 Home of Flowers, Swanley, Kent, who 

 possess a very large stock both of double 

 and single dahlias, comprising all the 

 newest varieties. 



Daisies on Lawn. 



To clear a lawn of daisies, there is 

 nothing equal to the continued use of 

 the daisy-fork. With this ingenious little 

 tool several square yards of apparently 

 the most hopeless grass can be cleared in 

 a few days. The fork should be used in 

 moist weather, and the grass well rolled 

 afterwards. 



Daisy (nat. ord. Compos'itse). 



There are many varieties of this plant 

 well worthy of cultivation. Among the 

 most beautiful are the large double, the 

 large quilled, and the hen-and-chickens. 

 These, in a very rich soil, produce fine 

 flowers, and are admirably adapted for 

 edgings. Interesting specimens may be 

 obtained from seed. 



Daisy Fork. 



Daisies should never be allowed to 

 flower: a good daisy rake, with a little 

 trouble, will remove all flowers as they 

 come out ; but the only plan to clear 

 a lawn effectually of these disagreeable 

 weeds is to take them out with the daisy 

 fork wherever they are found. This handy 

 little tool is made in different forms, or 

 rather with handles of different lengths, bu* 

 the principle is the same in all. A short 

 form of the fork is shown in the accompany- 

 ing illustration. This consists of an iron 

 shaft about ^ inch square, set in a wooden 

 handle. The extremity of the iron is formed 

 into a cleft fork, as shown at A. '1'bte *wk 

 is thrust into the ground, so as to taice the 

 daisy plant between the prongs or tines. 

 The iron ring which is attached to the 



