282 GREENHOUSE MANAGEMENT. 



breaking down of the stems by high winds, but many of 

 the new varieties have short stiff stems that make this 

 unnecessary. A better way of training the plants, which 

 will seldom require staking, is by pinching off the shoots 

 after they have two nodes above ground and allowing 

 four branches to form, all other shoots being removed. 

 In this way four stout shoots will be secured which can 

 be trained to single stems, if large flowers are desired, or 

 they may be again pinched and thus made to form as 

 many shoots as are wished. Another method, where 

 large flowers are desired, is to allow but one main shoot to 

 grow. This will become quite large and tree-like and 

 will require staking. 



When the tops have been killed by frost they should 

 be cut and, if severe freezing weather is likely to follow, 

 the roots should be dug ; after the removal of most of the 

 earth and partially drying them, if the soil is wet, they 

 should be stored in some cool but frost-proof and mod- 

 erately dry cellar. 



The cactus dahlia is likely to become the favorite 

 flower for late summer and early fall, and in the new 

 varieties there are many handsome forms and brilliant 

 colors. The original plant was carried from Mexico to 

 Holland in 1872. It was named Dahlia Juarez, in honor 

 of the President of Mexico. Instead of the quilled flo- 

 rets found in other forms those of the cactus dahlias are 

 flat and strap-shaped. 



The following list of varieties is recommended by 

 the Cornell Experiment Station: Cactus, Mrs. A. Peart, 

 white ; Nymphaea, pink ; Wm. Agnew, scarlet orange ; 

 Maid of Kent, scarlet and white ; Black Prince, dark 

 red ; large flowered, Grand Duke Alexis, white ; Ethel 

 Vick, pink ; Rev. C. W. Bolton, variegated, red and 

 yellow ; Eern Leaved Beauty, banded, red and white ; 

 pompon, Guiding Star, white, imbricated ; Vivid, scar- 

 let orange, and Ami Barillet, single, scarlet. 



