THE DAHLIA. 225 



part of May, five feet apart every way ; and, as they grow, 

 be tied to tall stakes. 



The best flowers will be produced in September, after the 

 nights become cool. After the frost has killed the tops, 

 the tubers should be taken up, and stored in dry sand until 

 spring. 



The dahlia is propagated by cuttings of the young spring 

 shoots, Avhich may be taken off and rooted in a frame in 

 spring, or by division of the roots ; every eye, with a portion 

 of root attached, making a plant. It may also be raised 

 from seed sown in April, in small pots, and the seedlings 

 transplanted. 



The characteristics of a good dahlia as a florist's flower 

 arc, — 



1. The flower should be a perfect circle when viewed in 



front ; the petals should be broad at the ends, smooth at the 



edges, thick in substance, perfectly free from indenture or 



point, and stiff to hold their form ; the flower should cup a 



little, but not enough to show the under-surface. They 



should be in regular rows, forming an outline of a perfect 



circle, without any vacancy between them ; and all in the 



circle should be the same size, uniformly opened to the same 



shape, and not crumpled. 

 15 



