GARDENING BY M YSELF. j ^j 



Juan, and Fanny Rotiget, and Imperatrice^ 

 and many more; costing little and paying 

 much. 



My seedling dahlias come finely into 

 bloom, despite the dry weather. The first 

 one that came out, of the bouquet section, 

 will I think be quite double as it gains 

 strength. The next, large velvety crimson, 

 is but semi-double, yet very showy. The 

 third, dark red of the brick cast of colour, 

 is as full and round and double as a dahha 

 can possibly be. Another has come out in 

 bright clear yellow, and there are purple- 

 tinted buds on the next. Certainly grow- 

 ing dahlias from seed is a great idea. My 

 packet of seed cost just ten cents ; and I 

 have had the pleasure of raising and watch- 

 ing them, and now (if one may judge by 

 the beginning) they will make a grand 

 show. And a certain amount of pure show 

 in a garden is useful, — helping to conceal 

 the blanks, helping to bridge over the in- 

 tervals between one set of loved flowers 

 and another. One does not love dahhas ; 



