ORNAMENTAL PLANTS. 91 



Symphoricarjnis vulg. variegata. — Yariegated-leaved. 

 Syringa Persica.—FeY^iViW Purple Lilac. 

 Syringa vulgaris alba. — Common Wliite Lilac. 

 Syringa vulgaris Chas. JC — Deep violet-colored flowers. 

 Tamarishus Africanus. — African Tamarisk. 

 Viburnum opulus. — The Snowball shrub. 

 Viburnum plicatum. — Slender-branched Snowball shrub. 

 Weigela rosea. — Rose-colored Weigela. 

 Weigela Deboisiana. — Deep rose-colored. 

 "Weigela Isolene. — Light rose and white. 

 Weigela amablis. — Elegant, pink floweiu 

 Weigela fol. variegata. — Variegated foliage. 



THE DAHLIA. 



It is scarcely three quarters of a century since the 

 Dahlia was introduced into the gardens of Europe, and 

 but little over forty years since the first double variety 

 was produced. Yet within this time it has been so much 

 improved, that no one unacquainted with its history would 

 imagine that the superb varieties now in cultivation could 

 have been produced from such an inferior-looking flower 

 as that of the original species. 



The rapidity with which the Dahlia has been brought to 

 its present state of perfection is only equaled by its dis- 

 semination throughout almost the entire civilized Avorld. 

 There is scarcely a garden from the tropics to the more 

 frozen regions of the north, where the gaudy Dahlia does 

 not display its scentless flowers. 



In variety of color it has no superior, in symmetry of 

 form no equal, and yet our florists are still progressing, 



