516 Propagation of the Dahlia. 



proceed, has very much the resemblance of that of the yirundo 

 Phragmites, which is always found round the edge of the vessel, 

 and therefore sustains no injury from opposition. In such a 

 place it must grow in its greatest perfection ; and what a splendid 

 and delightful aspect and odour would such a plant and its 

 varieties present when in flower ! All the species of iVymphse^a, 

 and other beautiful water-plants, might be grown in the same 

 basin, and this would render the whole still more splendid. 



Art. XI. Observations on the Propagation of the Dahlia. By C. O. 



The following observations have been suggested by the ap- 

 pearance of a paper on the propagation of the dahlia, published 

 in the Number of your Magazine for last month. That the 

 roots produced by dahlia cuttings, made in a particular manner, 

 will grow, has been proved beyond the possibility of dispute ; 

 but it has been as satisfactorily proved, that, if made in a different 

 manner, not one in ten will ever see the light of another year. 

 In order that the roots of dahlia cuttings may produce shoots 

 the following season, it is not necessary that they should be 

 taken off by their attachment to the crown of the old root; but 

 it is absolutely necessary that they should be cut immediately 

 under the insertion of a pair of leaves. Cuttings made by the 

 former method will neither grow stronger nor flower better 

 than those made b}^ the latter ; but they are preferable, as 

 having a greater number of buds in the crown, consequently 

 producing a more numerous progeny the following year : those 

 bv the latter method can only have the two buds always found 

 in the axils of the leaves; these do sometimes exist in a com- 

 pound state, and will either be developed or not, according to 

 the health and strength of the tubers. 



It has been stated, that the base buds of cuttings made in this 

 manner grow with the growth of the stem. Such may be the 

 case ; but I have propagated dahlias by cuttings for many years, 

 and never could recognise such a principle. I am aware that 

 cuttings can be made in such a manner, that the growth of the 

 stem will elevate the buds considerably above the crown of the 

 root, but I never could discover it where the cuttings were 

 pared off close to the buds. If it can be established that the 

 upper part of the tuber extends itself, and becomes a portion of 

 the lower extremity of the stem, then the assertion must be 

 granted; deny this, and the thing is impossible: for if the 

 cutting be taken close to the base of the leaves, then the buds 

 are included in the crown, which is the most essential part of 

 the root ; and few, if any, instances can be discovered, where 

 any plant will naturally destroy one of the most important 

 means of its future reproduction. It has further been stated, 



