85 



dry room free from frost. Any treatment which will 

 keep the potato during the winter, will keep the Dahlia 

 equally well. We prefer not to take the tubers up for 

 at least a week after a frost, as they will ripen much 

 better after the tops have been killed than before, and 

 the tubers are not so liable to shrivel up during rest. 



The species from which all the varieties, both double 

 and single, hare originated, are as follows : 



D. co^ cine a (Scarlet). One of the species first 

 introduced, and also the one of modern introduction; 

 type of the single varieties. 



D. excelsa. One of the strongest growing species ; 

 the stem strong and woody, rising over twenty feet. 



D. gracilis (Slender). One of the most beautiful 

 of the single forms ; flowers bright orange-scarlet. 



D. imperialis (Imperial). A very beautiful spe- 

 cies in its naiive home, but its flowers appear so late, 

 that it is of little value in our gardens. 



D. Juarezii (Cactus Dahlia). This has generally 

 been regarded a species, but it is really a garden variety, 

 which originated in Mexico. It is one of the most showy 

 and free-flowering of the tribe. Of this type there are 

 several named varieties, one of which is pure white, and 

 all are distinct and very desirable. 



D. Mercki. A small-flowered species, with white 

 and yellow or lilac and yellow flowers. 



D. variabilis (Variable). This is supposed to be 

 one of the species first introduced, and parent of most 

 of the garden varieties. 



DATTBENYA. 



A small genus of very pretty Cape of Good Hope 

 bulbs requiring greenhouse culture, but needing so 

 much room for successful development that their culture 

 is aot desirable. 



