370 MANUAL OF GARDENING 
large pots or tubs and grown into large tree-like specimens. Old 
and scraggly specimens should be thrown away. 
Crotons are propagated readily by cuttings of half-ripened wood any 
time in winter or spring. 
Cyclamen. — A tender greenhouse tuberous plant, sometimes seen 
in the window-garden. The Persian cyclamen is best for the house- 
gardener to grow. 
Cyclamens may be grown from seed sown in April or September in 
soil containing a large proportion of sand and leafmold. If sown 
in September, they should be wintered in a coolhouse. In May they 
should be potted into larger pots and placed in a shaded frame, and by 
July will have become large enough for their flowering pot, which 
should be either 5-inch or 6-inch. They should be brought into the 
house before danger of frost, and grown cool until through flowering. 
A temperature of 55° suits them while in flower. After flowering, they 
will need a rest for a short time, but should not become very dry, or the 
bulb will be injured. When they start into growth, they should have 
the old soil shaken off and be potted into smaller pots. At no time 
should more than half the tuber be under the soil. 
April-sown plants should be similarly treated. Cyclamens should 
bloom in about fifteen months from seed. The seed germinates very 
slowly. 
Tubers large enough to flower the first year may be purchased from 
the seedsmen at moderate prices; and unless one has facilities for grow- 
ing the seedlings for a year, purchase of the tubers will give the best 
satisfaction. Secure new tubers, for old ones are not so good. 
The soil best suited to the cyclamen is one containing two parts 
leafmold, one part each of sand and loam. 
Dahlia is an old favorite which, on account of its formal flowers, 
has been in disfavor for a few years, although it has always held a place 
in the rural districts. Now, however, with the advent of the cactus 
and semi-cactus types (or loose-flowered forms), and the improve- 
ment of the singles, it again has taken a front rank among late sum- 
mer flowers, coming in just in advance of the chrysanthemum. 
The single varieties may be grown from seed, but the double sorts 
