108 VEGETABLE AND FLOWER GARDEX. 



of young plants, and old ones must be cut down 

 before their seed ripens, or the wind will scatter it 

 about the garden. 



The flowers this month are all of a gorgeous, 

 brilliant appearance. There is the Sun Flower, 

 the red, red and white Hibiscus, the Double Holly- 

 hocks of various colors ; the white and Pyramidal 

 Phlox, the Tiger Lily. Not much is to be done in 

 the flower garden, but to save seeds, as they become 

 ripe ; cut down decayed plants, and tie up and 

 trim others of their superfluous foliage. The ar- 

 bors are now fully covered with odoriferous vines, 

 and are a delightful retreat toward evening, when 

 the honeysuckles give out their most delicious odor. 



SEPTEMBER. There is not much to be done with 

 the garden now but to enjoy its fruits, and its bril- 

 liant though somewhat gaudy flowers. One of the 

 most beautiful of them is the Dahlia, which has, 

 within a few years, been introduced into the gar- 

 dens of New England. It was not much cultiva- 

 ted in England until the year 1814. It is a native 

 of Mexico, and was named after a Swedish bota- 

 nist of the name of Dahl, a pupil of the celebrated 

 Linnaeus. The first introduced into Europe was a 

 purple one, in 1789, which was single. Since 

 then there have been very numerous and beautiful 

 varieties introduced. They are produced either 

 from the seeds or by dividing the roots. They 

 will flower the first year from the seed, but very 

 few will be double. The finest varieties are prop- 

 agated by dividing the roots, which are tuberous, 

 and resemble the sweet potatoe. As soon as the 

 frost has blackened the tops, they should be dug up 

 and put into a warm, dry cellar, secure from frost. 

 When the spring returns, they must be divided by a 



