4i6 



Garden and Forest. 



[Number 293. 



tliose which have the base of the petals differently colored 

 from the tip, and shading imperceptibly from one tint to the 

 other, or else changing abruptly so as to form a ring around 

 the disk ; those which have the edge of each petal, from base 

 to tip, of a distinct color from the central portion ; and those 

 whose petals are marked longitudinally throughout with nar- 

 row stripes. In all of these types, especially the last two, oc- 

 casional flowers will be found where one color seems to have 

 expelled the other. In some seasons the fine Chilwell Beauty 

 loses the orange centre from its petals, and the flower be- 

 comes simply crimson ; Theseis, a white flower with longitu- 

 dinal purple stripes, frequently becomes all white or all pur- 

 ple ; Gulielma, which, when in full character, is a white flower 



are as frequently produced as by other strains, but no more 

 so. The other makes a less compact plant than the first, but 

 still not an awkward or rambling one. I value it especially for 

 its remarkably elegant foliage, which is beautifully cut, and 

 frequently of a bronzy hue. The flowers of this strain are 

 almost always deep crimson, but a little variation is beginning 

 to appear. 



As the season for lifting Dahlias is approaching, it may be 

 well to say that the roots ought to be turned stems downward 

 as soon as the tops are cut off, and kept so until spring ; the 

 losses of Dahlias during the winter, otherwise than by freezing, 

 are mostly caused by neglect of this precaution. 



Canton, Mass. IV. E. Endicott. 



Fig. 62. — Nymphaea tuberosa. — See page 415. 



with buff-edged petals, is most frequently seen without the buff. 

 The complaint is sometimes heard that single Dahlias are not 

 suitable for cutting because the petals drop so quickly, but if 

 cut before the central florets open the flower will last several 

 days ; indeed, the petals will wither in their place rather than 

 fall. 



There are several strains of single Dahlias differing in their 

 manner of growth and abundance of flowering ; two of these 

 are so superior that I use very little seed of any other. One of 

 them makes a close, thick, round-headed bush, from three to 

 three and a half feet high, flowers most profusely, and throws 

 all of its blossoms a foot or so above the top of the plant. The 

 colors are as varied as the genus can give, and good flowers 



House-plants. 



A MONO my rather numerous plants there are none which 

 -^^ are more thoroughly satisfactory than those which we use 

 for house-plants in winter. Tried friends these are, in both ac- 

 ceptations of the phrase. Plants which will continue thrifty 

 under conditions prevailing in a modern house are not very 

 numerous, but, happily, one can have a choice of available 

 plants which are not only handsome in form, but which will 

 prove satisfactory under adverse conditions. It is some years 

 since I ceased the struggle to grow soft-wooded flowering 

 plants in the house, for the first requisite to success with these 

 is that the temperature and conditions of the house should be 



A 



