THE MAGAZINE 



OF 



HORTICULTURE. 



AUGUST, 1838. 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



Art. I. ..Additional Bemarks on the Dahlia; the properties 

 of flowers and the exhibition of blooms. By the Editor. 



When we penned our former remarks upon the cuhivation of 

 the dahlia — which were extended to some length — we thought 

 we had said nearly all that was necessary upon the subject. In 

 so far as the mere growth of the plants is to be considered, we 

 gave ample directions, and at this time shall say nothing on that 

 point. But as the dahlia seems to be much more extensively 

 grown this season than in any year heretofore, and as there ap- 

 pears among the largest growers some spirit of competition, and 

 by gentlemen and amateurs generally a desire to know every 

 thing in relation to this beautiful flower, we have ventured to 

 throw out a few hints, confined mostly to the properties of flow- 

 ers, some rules which should be observed in judging blooms, 

 and the method of arranging them in stands for exhibition. 



The dahlia has done more, in England, than all other plants 

 together, towards the dissemination of a taste for gardening. 

 Societies have in many instances been organized for the sole 

 purpose of making dahlia exhibitions. These exhibitions have 

 been so attractive, from the splendor of the numerous and beau- 

 tiful varieties displayed, that they have created a desire, among 

 all persons possessing a spot of soil, to cultivate the plants, and a 

 spirit of emulation in exhibiting the most superb flowers. Even- 

 tually these societies have embraced other objects in their exhi- 

 bitions, and the result has been the difiiision of a taste for floral 

 productions of all kinds — a nicer appreciation of the beauties of 

 the garden — a zeal to possess every thing rare — and attempts to 

 excel in the production of superior specimens for exhibition. 



VOL. IV. NO. VIII. 36 



