on the Dahlia. 289 



scarcity of sorts, be too near of a color, the arrangement had 

 better be ahered so as to put them thus: — 



" In this arrangement the contrast is quite as complete,' but 

 the uniformity is not, there being two light flowers at one end, 

 and two dark at the other: however, they will look better this 

 way than the other, if there is too much similarity in either the 

 light or dark flower. The names suggested are not to guide the 

 shower altogether, because there are fifty varieties equally as ap- 

 plicable as a majority of those mentioned, and some even better 

 adapted than those set down: but if there be any bloom left on 

 dahlia plants, when this appears, let the experiment be tried, and 

 there will be no doubt about the matter; it will be a few minutes 

 well spent, and prepare the party for next season. It is worthy 

 of remark, that at Salt Ilill there were but two stands arranged 

 upon the plan now recommended, though more than fifty were 

 shown." 



This is a simple arrangement, but beautiful and striking; and, 

 we doubt not, would please much better than the promiscuous 

 scattering of the flowers heretofore adopted. This system, let 

 the stand be one of six, twelve, twenty-four or fifty blooms, will 

 enable the gentleman or amateur to compete with the nurseryman; 

 and the individual who grows fifty first-rate varieties will stand as 

 good a chance of having the best stand, as the amateur or nur- 

 seryman who grows his three or four hundred plants. The ab- 

 surd idea that too many have imbibed, that the largest number of 

 blossoms is necessarily the best, without any examination of the 

 individual blooms, we wish to see abandoned. It has originated 

 with those who scarcely know what a good formed dahlia is, or, 

 at least, the properties of a bloom; and who, to make up for 

 such ignorance, at once judge by the quantity rather than the 

 quality. 



Such are the observations we have thrown together at this 

 time, for those of our readers who feel interested in the subject 

 to reflect upon. So far as we have made ourselves acquainted 

 with the dahlia, they are our frank opinions, and we believe there 

 are many cultivators who will agree with us. Should they differ 

 from us, we shall be glad to receive their opinions and criticismSj 

 that all may avail themselves of the information. 



VOL. IV. NO. VIII. 37 



