THE NURSERY-LIST 297 



mass-effect the same season if started early under glass. The roots 

 of these seed-grown plants may be used for subsequent propagation 

 the same as from other plants. 



Dahlia tubers may be started into growth in heat in winter (say 

 January), and the young sprouts may be removed and handled 

 as ordinary cuttings as fast as they form the third or fourth leaves, 

 the same as sweet potatoes are handled. These cuttings should be 

 removed close to the tuber or else at the first joint (preferably the 

 former) ; they are set in sand in a propagating bench with bottom 

 heat ; when rooted, the plants are handled into small pots, where 

 they will soon form tubers. These cutting-plants, if 6 to 10 inches 

 high when set in the open, make excellent bloom that season, al- 

 though generally giving dwarfer plants than those grown from 

 tubers planted directly in the ground. If the shoots or cuttings are 

 severed far below a joint, no tubers will form (for the subsequent 

 propagation of the plant), although flowers may be produced. Rare 

 sorts may be increased in summer by cuttings from growing tips. 



Dahlias may be grafted, the tuber being used as a stock. Cions 

 made of the growing tips may be grafted on the root-tubers by a 

 cleft- or side-graft or simple laying together of cut surfaces. This 

 method is oftenest employed for the purpose of preserving over 

 winter rare or weak sorts which it is feared may be lost. The 

 grafts are kept growing slowly during winter, and cuttings may 

 be taken from them. Sometimes cions are taken from forced 

 plants in late winter or early spring and set in strong tubers for 

 outdoor planting. The joined part of the grafted plant (the 

 union) is sometimes covered with clay, but usually sufficient pro- 

 tection is secured if the union is partly buried in the earth in which 

 the plant is potted. 



Dalbergia. Leguminosce. 



Grown from seeds, as are other leguminous trees; also from 

 young-wood cuttings in heat. 



Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). Composite. 



Raised from seeds, in early spring, when grown for " greens " or 

 blanched leaves. The plants may be harvested the same fall or 

 allowed to stand until spring. 



Daphne. Thymelaeacea. 



Propagated by seeds, sown after maturity or stratified ; ger- 

 mination is slow in some species. For layers, remove the soil 



