Propagatio7i of the Dahlia. 429 



it is not easily found, the leaves and whole plant having much 

 the appearance of charcoal, among which it usually grows. 



The specimens marked No. 5. {fg. 84. 5.) belong to a very cu- 

 rious genus of Orchideae, of which I have discovered two species, 

 very similar in their structure and economy. The leaves, one to 

 each plant, are round, and lie flat on the soil ; the stems grow 

 12or 18 inches high, each producing a single flower. The flower 

 consists of five narrow divisions, four of which are turned back by 

 the side of the germen ; and the fifth stands up behind the upper 

 lip, which, in this genus, contains the anthers. The lower lip 

 resembles an insect suspended in the air, and moving with every 

 breeze on a remarkable hinge, which you will observe in the 

 specimens. Anything which turns the plant to one side, brings 

 the insect-like part, which I suppose to be the stigma, in con- 

 tact with the anthers. The roots of the fly-catching and hinged 

 orchises are thick downy fibres, which terminate in small bulbs: 

 but I rather think these bulbs act only as reservoirs of nourish- 

 ment, unless they happen to be accidentally separated from the 

 parent plant; in which case they become separate plants. They 

 are from one to three or more in number, and spring from the 

 stem, about half an inch below the surface of the ground. 



Simn River, Oct. 18. 1837. [Received at Bayswater, July 22. 

 1838.] 



Art. VIII. On the best Mode of propagating the Dahlia. By John 

 Fyffe, Gardener at Milton Rectory, Bedfordshire. 



A GREAT diversity of opinion exists regarding the best mode 

 of propagating the dahlia ; some preferring cuttings, and others 

 the roots divided into small portions. The merits of these 

 different modes of propagating this modern favourite of the 

 flower-garden I shall leave others to decide : what I mean to 

 lay before you at present is, a way, by following which every 

 gardener may secure a stock of plants for the following season. 

 Every one, who has any knowledge of this plant, is aware how 

 liable plants raised from cuttings are to form weak or imperfect 

 tubers. This does not always hold good ; but, in a great many 

 instances, it will more frequently happen than from divided 

 roots ; and, when this is the case, the plants often do not start 

 the next season: and it must be allowed to be very vexing, if it 

 is an expensive sort, to have it only one season, and lose it the 

 next. 



The plan which I have followed to remedy this evil is this : — 

 From all the newest sorts which have been purchased from the 

 nursery (and which, in most cases, are cuttings), after they are 

 established, or as soon as I can take a cutting without hurting 

 the plant, I take the small side shoots (the more stubbed the 



