General JVotices. 379 



when the operation is altogether left until the spring. The mode of 

 planting I prefer, is, so to place the trees that they should not, from 

 any point of view, appear to be planted in rows; they should be set 

 about four feet apart, and young plants should be selected, as they 

 succeed better, and usually overtake those of larger size. In plant- 

 ing, care should be taken that it is properly done: not merely to 

 thrust the plants into the holes, but to have them dug sufficiently 

 large that the roots may be spread out horizontally, without l)eing 

 crowded. The holes should be filled up with fine earth, not with 

 those dry hard lumiis which, in dry weather, are usually formed on 

 the surface. — Id. 



Hints to be observed in the cultivation of the Dahlia. — The follow- 

 lowing are, in our opinion, tounded on correct principles in physiolo- 

 gy, and, as they apply to a plant so generally known and cultivated 

 as the dahlia, their aj)pearance in our pages cannot fail to be of great 

 value to all cultivators of this splendid flower. Without having, 

 ourselves, tested the application of these principles, in such a man- 

 ner as to be fully persuaded they are correct, still, so far as we have 

 occasion to draw any conclusions, thej^ appear so, and we hope, 

 should any of our amateur friends fin<l time, (and many of them can 

 much better than ourselves,) we hope they will communicate the 

 results through our pages. They cannot but be of great value to 

 every dahlia grower. — Ed. 



The dahlia is subject to vary so much in different situations and 

 seasons, that great difliculty exists in gaining an accurate knowledge 

 of the merits of each kind, especially of those which have been only 

 seen for one season. The circumstances under which it is grown are 

 also so various, that, unless you see the plant, you cannot fairly judge 

 the merits of the flower. A great deal of attention is reiiuisite, in 

 order if possible to find out what particular culture a given plant lias 

 been subjected to; for example, whether the shoots have been much 

 thinned, the flowers shaded, a great deal of manure given, or none 

 at all, &c. All these circumstances should be impiiretl into, or how 

 can we expect to get fine flowers from new kinds? The following 

 facts, with regard to new kinds of dahlias, should always be borne iu 

 mind before condenming them the second year: — 



1. That the seedling plant is much debilitated by propagation, and 

 therefore the flowers are rarely as good the second season as they 

 are the first and third. This circumstance alone accounts in a great 

 measure tor the dissatisfaction expressed of late years concerning the 

 merits of new dahlias. 



2. Tliat the best flowers are obtained from those plants struck 

 from the first cuttings produced by the mother jjlant, notwithstanding 

 that they are seldom as strong as the cuttings that are afterwards 

 produced. 



3. That exciting the roots by means of a strong heat early in the 

 spring, and striking the young plants on a strong dung-bed, tend to 

 weaken the plants so treated to such a degree, tiiat they frequently 

 require two or three seasons to recover, and regain their original 

 character. Thus it is found that good flowers are obtained with the 

 least trouble from those plants kept in pots the first season after strik- 

 ing, (termed by the trade pot-roots,) [tlanted out the following sea- 

 son, and allowed to start of their own accord. 



