42 Observations on the Dahlia 



whose tastes are more alimentary than mental — all denote 

 a higher order of mind, in some tidy housewife, or younjo^er 

 female ; and when I discover the highly patronized dahlia, 

 lifting its rich blossoms among the associates of its new and 

 strange locality, to me it proves the grarlual development of 

 a purity of taste and feeling, which, though not incongruous, 

 is not always to be expected in such scenes. From the 

 elevated sandy meadows of Mexico, where, scarce half a 

 century since, they were probably first known, and shortly 

 after, were transferred from the Mexican Botanic Garden, 

 the species, and almost innumerable varieties have extended 

 with a greater rapidity and more accompanied admiration 

 over the civilized world, than perhaps any other vegetable. 

 The rich alluvial soils of the south, and the hard rocky 

 lands of the north, are adorned with their cultivation ; and 

 with a singular accommodation to circumstances, they 

 evince scarce a preference in the expansion of their blos- 

 soms, for one section than for another. It is presumable, 

 however, that heat is injurious to the perfection of their 

 flowers, — a defect which might be obviated in a great de- 

 gree by application of more moisture. Naturalization or ac- 

 climation cannot speedily, if at all, be expected in our north- 

 ern latitudes, unless occasionally accidental escape from the 

 effects of frost be deemed such, which has been known in 

 this vicinity in several instances ; and a case was mentioned 

 of a root exposed to the winters of several years, protected 

 entirely by the early and deep snows so common in the 

 mountainous regions of New Hampshire. In the Azores, 

 they are lifted out of the soil at the approach of the winter 

 season, and left exposed on the surface till the returning 

 spring, undoubtedly with the view to give a temporary re- 

 pose, and secure a greater amoimt of flowers. 



So much has been said and written on the subject of my 

 present remarks, that I can scarcely be expected to offer any 

 thing new ; and it is only with the design of presenting your 

 Magazine with a succinct account of the early history and 

 rapid progress of this superb flower, together with whatever 

 observations may suggest themselves, that I undertake the 

 task. Mr. Joseph Sabine, in the third volume of the 

 "Transactions of the Hort. Soc. in London," has drawn up 

 a very able and exceedingly interesting article, embracing 

 all that was known at that time (1818) ; but as it may not 

 be easily available to many of your readers interested in the 

 subject, I shall consider it a sufficient excuse to pursue my 

 intentions. 



" The dahlia," says Count Lelieur, "was originally from 

 Mexico, and introduced into Europe in 1789." — " From the 

 Botanic Garden at Mexico, it was sent to that of Madrid, 



