CHAP. V. ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS, ETC. 559 



away. Those preserved should be potted in well-drained pots, 

 and put in some place under shelter from the Rains till the 

 following October, when they should be turned out of their pots, 

 separated at the roots into several small plants, and be then 

 repotted, or put out in the border in good rich soil. They will 

 blossom beautifully, thus treated, the second season. No plant 

 deteriorates so much if not shifted frequently into fresh soil. 



Solidago. 



S. Canadensis GOLDEN ROD. As common a plant in the 

 Calcutta gardens and thrives equally well as in those of England ; 

 well known for its long feather-head-like rods of small, bright- 

 yellow, densely-crowded flowers. Propagated by division. 



Dahlia. 



D. superflua. Though the Dahlia thrives well and blows 

 freely in India, it very rarely produces those fine, handsome, 

 fully-double flowers which make it so conspicuous an object of 

 beauty in the gardens of Europe. 



The following will perhaps be found the most advisable mode 

 of cultivation. About July the tubers begin to start. They should 

 then be just covered over with some light mellow soil, and watered. 

 When they have made shoots about two inches long, take them 

 up, and slice off each shoot with a penknife, together with a small 

 piece of the tuber. Plant out these shoots in a flower-pot filled 

 with sand, and keep them watered. They will soon establish 

 themselves as young plants. When they have done so, remove 

 them into the pots or border where they are finally to remain, 

 and they will blossom in November and December. 



The great object to be aimed at is, by every retarding process 

 that can be adopted, to prevent the plants from opening their 

 flowers till about the middle of December. This must be obvious 

 to any one who has observed how often the same plant that has 

 commenced blossoming with all but single flowers in November, 

 will as the Cold season advances, produce them more and more 

 double. 



It is important that from an early period they be carefully 

 supported with stakes, or they will be sure to be blown down 

 and be destroyed. 



