126 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1892. 



the other varieties in the large number of flowers which it bears, 

 and on account of its dwarf habit, although for out-door culture 

 the tall variety is good. For out-door culture, the tubers should 

 be started in March or April and set out the 1st of June. They 

 are propagated from oflsets of the large tubers. 



The Dahlia is a Mexican plant and was brought to Europe in 

 1789. There are but few species, the one that has produced 

 our old orarden varieties beinsr Dahlia variabilis. It is a re- 

 markable fact that this one species, without any hybridization, 

 has given rise to so many different colors. One of the new 

 introductions is Dahlia Juarezii or Cactus Dahlia, which is 

 quite worthy of cultivation, when one has space enough. Dahlia 

 coccinea is the parent of our many single varieties. 



Dahlias are very easily propagated by dividing the tubers, or 

 hy starting the plants into growth early in the spring and taking 

 cuttings of the young shoots ; as soon as rooted they should be 

 potted and kept growing until the last of May, when they are 

 set out. The plan that gives the best results, however, is to 

 start the tubers into growth about the middle of April, and, as 

 soon as they have grown 2 to 3 inches, cut the shoot off with a 

 piece of the tuber and pot it in a 3J inch pot, or larger if neces- 

 sary. These will make good stocky plants to set out by the 

 1st of June, that will srow one stem from the o-round, with a 

 large branching top that will produce an abundance of flowers. 

 If the tubers are planted, all but 2 or 3 of the shoots should be 

 broken off. Before planting drive a strong stake into the 

 ground where each plant is to be. Choose a rich moist piece of 

 land and set the plants 3 feet apart in rows 4 feet apart ; the 

 plants will cover all the land. Liquid manure applied when the 

 plants are coming into bloom, will improve the quality of the 

 flowers. They seed freely and new varieties are easily raised, 

 if some care is used in selecting the seed-bearing plants. After 

 the frost has killed the plants, lift the tubers, shake oft* the soil, 

 and dry them in the sun ; store them in a cool dry cellar during 

 winter. One species, Dahlia excelsa, grows 30 ft. high. 



The Lilium ; Of 45 species of the Lilium not one is unworthy 

 of cultivation. The Lily needs a good sandy loam with a 



