H4 The Dahlia 



two groups as one under the title of cactus ; and there 

 is a shrewd suspicion that certain dealers wilfully 

 muddle the two groups, and include any nondescript 

 seedling in the all-embracing and convenient class. 

 Still, there is a keen appreciation of the decorative 

 type, and it will grow. As a plant for cut flower the 

 Dahlia is assuming an important place. It gives really 

 rich colour and variety. What has been done for the 

 Dahlia in America is but the beginning ; the leaven 

 is at work, and from Newport in Ehode Island to 

 Washington, D.C., Dahlia gardens are being planned 

 as never before. And from California comes evidence 

 of the interest, a correspondent giving this account of 

 the methods adopted there : 



In the city of San Francisco the climate is very cool, especi- 

 ally in midsummer, and in being on the coast we get a deal of 

 foggy nights, which, of course, just suits the Dahlia, and there 

 are at this date some really first-class blooms to be seen in San 

 Francisco, especially in first-class Cactus vars. recently imported 

 from Europe. Personally, I do not grow them for early flower- 

 ing, as I prefer my Dahlias to bloom when most of our best 

 garden flowers have passed their best ; but some of our gardeners 

 here have them blooming with roses, carnations, etc. 



The method which I have adopted is to pot small tubers cut 

 to one eye, and then plant out in the open ground when I think 

 they are strong enough to fight for themselves, as when planted 

 in mixed borders slugs and snails are liable to be very trouble- 

 some, if planted in the usual way. I allow but one stem, pinch 

 back, to make about four laterals. In growing for exhibition I 

 generally pinch out the growths of a couple of joints nearest to 

 the buds, and get a nicely finished flower in that way. 



Now, the culture is quite different in the interior of California, 

 where the climate is much warmer than in San Francisco. 

 Dahlias are generally planted out in April or May, and kept 

 growing steadily. They usually produce a few, small, semi-double 

 flowers during the hot weather ; but in September, when cooler 

 weather prevails, they are cut down, well mulched and given a 



