70 THE FLOWER GARDEN COMPANION. 



The cultivation of the Dahlia is generally encouraging to 

 the lovers of floriculture, and, when well understood, is very 

 simple in its operations ; adapting itself to more variations of 

 soil and location, in favorable seasons, than any other family 

 of plants that claims so general admiration. Nor does a dif- 

 ferent kind of soil act so materially on its well-being, as on 

 many kinds of plants, which are partial in their nature, and 

 will only flourish in their peculiar soil and location. But 

 should the season prove unpropitious, the most unremitting 

 and scientific exertions of the cultivator cannot counteract its 

 effect on the flowering ; although, in some cases, good culture 

 will greatly assist the process. The most unpropitious sea- 

 son to the Dahlia, in this climate, is a long continuance of 

 drought in the months of July and August; for when this 

 occurs, the growth of the young shoots is impeded so that the 

 flower buds cannot unfold and develop ; but are impoverished 

 in their embryo state in the shoots, which are consequently 

 converted into a hard, woody substance, in order to bear the 

 extreme dry season. In this case, it is not until the cool 

 nights of the fall months that the Dahlia can make the proper 

 shoots for flowering ; and this often happens so late, that the 

 entire stalk is killed by the frost before flowering commences. 

 The most favorable locations in such seasons are on the bor- 

 ders of rivers, lakes, or large sheets of water, that afford a 

 humid atmosphere in the mornings and evenings of hot sultry 

 weather ; for there is no plant of the flower garden that is 

 more benefited by a humid atmospheric air than the Dahlia. 



So far as my experience has been in regard to location, I 

 have found that a free exposure is the best; for when the 

 Dahlia is grown in a confined, shady situation, the plant is 

 generally drawn slender, and the flowers produced are thin 

 of petals, and do not possess the bright, vivid color, as when 

 fully exposed. But care must be taken to plant the Dahlia 

 where it is sheltered from the north and north-west winds, by 

 which the plants, when in a growing state, are often blown 

 down and injured, 



