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VOL. VIII.] 



FEBKUARY, 1885. 



[No. 2. 



THE DAHLIA. 



Mexico is the native land and 

 home of the Dahlia. But think not 

 that the dahlias which there grow on 

 the sandy plains bear mi^ch resemblance 

 to the exquisitely colored and perfectly 

 formed flowers shewn in the beautiful 

 colored plate which embellishes this 

 number. It is now almost a hundred 

 years since Alexander von Humboldt 

 sent the tirst dahlia tubers from Mexico 

 to Madrid, in Spain. The flowers were 

 something like a small purple sunflower. 

 From Spain it was cai'ried to France, 

 and at length, in 1814, some roots were 

 brought from France to England. From 

 England it was introduced into the 

 United States, about the year 1825. 

 Since then the skill of the gardener has 

 been improving the form and coloring, 

 until we have such perfection of form 

 and elegance of coiox-ing as are seen in 

 our plate. 



In order to assist those of our readers 

 who may choose a tuber of double-dahlia, 

 to grow it successfully, we subjoin a 

 few hints on its cultivation. 



The dahlia flourishes best in a moder- 

 ately cool and moist summer. Such was 

 the summer of 1883, and those of our 

 readers who attended the meeting of the 



Fruit Growers' Association, held that 

 autumn in St. Catharines, will not have 

 forgotten the magnificent display of 

 dahlias in the grounds of the writer. It 

 is not possible for us to regulate the 

 character of our summers, but knowing 

 the kind of weather and general sur- 

 roundings that suit them best, we can 

 give them measurably such environ- 

 ment as will, under all the circum- 

 stances, produce the best possible re- 

 sults. 



The soil best suited to the dahlia is 

 one that has been made rich, has been 

 deeply cultivated, and is quite friable. 

 Even then it is well to put a shovelful 

 of well-rotted manure into the hole, in- 

 corporate with it some of the best of the 

 surface soil, scatter a little surface soil 

 on that and plant .the dahlia tubers so 

 that the neck or collar of the plant will 

 be just slightly below the surface of the 

 ground. Drive a stout stake beside it, 

 to which you can tie the dahlia as it 

 grows, for it will need this support lest 

 it be broken to pieces by the winds. 

 Give the plant abundant room, say from 

 five to six feet in every direction, and 

 if you have several plants, set them that 

 distance apart each way. 



