196 DOUBLE DAHLIA. 



tation may be single, and semi-double, and that but fe?r 

 double-flowering plants can be expected, equal to those 

 above described, it must appear evident that it is the inte- 

 rest of such persons as desire to have their gardens unin- 

 eumbered 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 gardeners, it may be neces- 

 sary to state, that although new varieties are usually raised 

 from seed of the finest double flowers, some successful pro- 

 pagators prefer that procured from semi-double varieties. 

 Sow seed towards the end of February, or early in March, 

 F in pots, and plunge them in a moderate hot-bed, or seed 

 may be deposited in the earth of the beds in shallow drills, 

 and the beds attended to as directed in the calender 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 

 be either 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 

 properly managed, make a plant.* Those who may com- 

 mence cultivating at an early season, should put the plants 

 thus separated into small pots, and keep them in a growing 

 state until about the middle of May, at which time they may 

 be turned out of the pots with the balls of earth entire, and 



* In order to obtain an extra number of plants from any choice varieties, 

 cuttings are frequently taken from the shoots; when about three inches in 

 length/which are planted in nursery pots, and cultivated in hot-beds: these 

 require to be shaded from the sun, by mats, for -the first fortnight, after 

 which they may be gradually inured to the air, and treated as plants raised 

 in the ordinary way. 



