46 Observations on the Dahlia. 



6400 feet above the level of the sea. A sandy meadow, in 

 such a situation, may not be a poor or meagre soil ; on the 

 contrary, it is most probably a very rich one, being compos- 

 ed of the alluvial deposit of the decomposition, both mineral 

 and vegetable of the upper regions. It is certain that the 

 effect of poor soil on the plant is to weaken the tendency to 

 produce rich flowers, by the poverty of its entire growth, 

 and that, when liberally supplied with suitable food and suf- 

 ficient moisture, nothing can surpass the exuberance of its 

 blooms. 



The value of the dahlia seems confined to its intrinsic 

 beauty and hardiness, as an ornamental plant. Many futile 

 attempts have been made to introduce it among the esculent 

 roots ; but it would require a savage appetite, or a love for 

 novelty, to bring this about. Its tubes, nevertheless, abound 

 in farina, but the supposed presence of benzoic acid destroys 

 their palatableness. The Compositse, in their general char- 

 acters, though of great importance to mankind in their med- 

 ical properties, offer few articles of nutritious food. The 

 tubes of the tuberous sunflower, improperly and commonly 

 called "Jerusalem artichoke,", are indeed considered by 

 some as delicate food, and the disk of the genuine artichoke 

 is used in some countries extensively as an accompaniment 

 to the table. 



Every season brings to the dahlia some new insect foe, 

 which attacks its valuable and tender buds, or devastates 

 its foliage. The grasshopper (a common green species) and 

 the Syrtis erosa, with Membracis bubalus, better known to the 

 unscientific as a two-horned triangular bug^ has been pecul- 

 iarly busy for a few seasons past. While some unknown 

 pest, of a green and smooth larva, luxuriously riots on the 

 rich petals, or undermines the leaves. A small dipterous (.'') 

 insect was also observed for the first time this year, but I 

 was unable to detect any such new depredator. Nothing 

 but a careful examination and diligent use of the fingers in 

 seizing and crushing the intruders, with perhaps some liquid 

 application to the roots, which should promote a more 

 speedy and vigorous growth, is a preventive. It is to be 

 hoped attention will be paid to this view of the subject, that 

 some method may fortunately be devised to save from dis- 

 appointment the promised glories of our finest and rarest 

 plants, or at least that these insidious mischief workers may 

 be known and exposed. 



I conclude this article with only one question to the ex- 

 perimental florist, viz., whether sufficient experiment has 

 been made, as to soil or exposure, to insure the perfection 

 of bloom in that rich and superb variety " Levick's Incom- 

 parable .'"' Every one who attended the last annual exibition 



