82 BULBS AND TUBEROUS-HOOTED PLANTS. 



the most delicate neutral tint, and so perfectly blended 

 that nothing but the most perfect harmony is visible. 



The raising of Dahlias from seed is one of the pleas- 

 ures of gardening, and we cannot understand why the 

 practice is not more common, since it is attended with so 

 little difficulty in proportion to the success gained. The 

 certainty of getting some very fine varieties is well bal- 

 anced by getting some that are not worth growing, but 

 these are easily thrown away, giving the remaining 

 plants a better opportunity for development. To get 

 choice seed is the important work ; this, many growers 

 think, can only be obtained by cross-fertilization, from 

 which opinion we dissent. Our opinion, based on years 

 of experience, is that selection is the more important 

 work. To choose for seed-bearing plants such as have 

 the greatest vigor, grace of habit, and, withal, such as 

 have the most desirable flowers, as regards color, form 

 and markings. Seed from medium or poor flowers 

 should never be saved, neither should seeds from a plant 

 that has produced other than perfect flowers, and these 

 should be grov/n away from the ornamental border, as 

 but few flowers should be left on the plant for seed ; the 

 other of the buds to be taken off, in order that the seed 

 may have the full strength of the plant for its develop- 

 ment. The seed of the single Dahlia should be saved in 

 August, if possible ; if left until the nights are cool the 

 flowers will have a tendency to become double ; the 

 floral discs will elongate, to protect the seed from the 

 cold, which they do not do in hot weather. It is a sin- 

 gular fact that a low temperature is favorable for double 

 forms. In hot climates the flowers of the Dahlia will 

 not remain double, and they can only be produced by 

 getting tubers annually from cold climates ; and it is 

 nearly as difficult to retain the single forms in cool 

 climates. 



Cultivation and Propagation. While the Dahlia 

 will grow wherever planted, whether the soil be heavy or 



