PROPAGATION. 91 



After the graft has been tied, a piece of fine clay, such as is used 

 for common grafting, must be placed round it ; then pot the root in 

 fine mould in a pot of such a size as wiU bury the graft half way in 

 the mould ; place the pot in a little heat in the front of a cucumber -or 

 melon frame, if you chance to have one in work at the time ; the front 

 is to be preferred, for the greater convenience of shading and watering 

 which are required. A striking glass may be put over the graft, or 

 not, at pleasure. In about three weeks, the root should be shifted 

 into a large pot, if it be too soon to plant it in the border, which wiU 

 probably be the case, as the plant cannot go out before April or May, 

 BO that the shifting will be very essential to promote its growth tiU 

 the proper season of planting out shall arrive. 



Treatment of Slips. — The shoots having been carefully separated from 

 their parent tuber, they are immediately placed in thumb pots, filled 

 with fight soO, not inserting each more than an inch deep ; when this 

 is done, the pots are plunged in the hot bed. When they have filled 

 these smaU pots with roots, they are shifted into others, which may 

 serve them until the time for planting, unless that be protracted by 

 unfavorable weather ; in which contingency it wiU be desirable to 

 remove them again into a size larger, to allow the roots to grow more 

 freely, and to prevent their becoming a close and compact mass, which 

 would be highly detrimental to their vigorous development, and the 

 future health of the plant, when consigned to the open ground. 

 Numerous shoots are emitted from the same tuber in succession, and 

 these are treated in precisely the same manner when arrived at the 

 proper length. They must be shaded fi'om the sun while making 

 roots, and protected from vapor and frost. The best compost for the 

 Dahfia in pots is a mixture of sifted decayed hotbed dung, light 

 virgin loam, and pure white sand, in equal quantities. 



Situation and Preparation of the Soil. 



The natural habitat of the Dahlia is, we are informed, in a rather 

 light soil and on open plains. English cultivators recommend a shel- 

 tered situation ; that is, sheltered from high winds, which break and 

 shatter their lateral branches, however much they may be strength- 

 ened and supported by stakes ; yet fully exposed to the sun, and 

 where they can have the advantage of a free circulation of air, the soil 



