434 



THE GAKDENEK'S ASSISTANT. 



it with 

 bearing 

 varying 



others akin to it, numerous varieties 

 the peculiar Cactus-like character, and 

 considerably in colours and combina- 



Fig. 538.— Cactus Dahlias. 



tions of shades, have been raised. The first 

 seedlings were of tall growth, with few floAvers, 

 which were hidden by the foliage. The newer 

 varieties are comparatively dwarf, free-blooming, 

 and in not a few cases throw their flowers well 

 above the foliage. Some of them, however, 

 bloom somewhat sparingly, and for them no 

 thinning of the shoots should be attempted. 



Single Cactus, a recent development, com- 

 prises single forms of the Cactus type, with 

 quilled and pointed petals; they are likely to 

 gain general favour, being dwarf and very free 

 of bloom. 



Pompon Liliputian Dahlias (fig. 539). — These 

 originated in Germany in the early part of the 

 present century as a sport from D. coccinea. At 

 first of tall growth and flowering sparingly, 

 they have been greatly improved, being gener- 

 ally of fairly dwarf habit, and remarkably free 

 of bloom. The flowers are small, symmetrical, 

 borne on long, stiff, erect stems, and of variable 

 colours. For garden decoration they are un- 

 surpassed; they are also popular as exhibition 

 flowers. 



Decorative Dahlias. — This group consists of 



free-blooming varieties of an intermediate and 

 mixed character, and which are much employed 

 for general garden purposes, though likely to 

 be superseded by, if they do not entirely dis- 

 appear in favour of, the greatly improved 

 Cactus section. 



Bedding Dahlias. — Under this name we have 

 a group of dwarf, free-blooming varieties of the 

 Show type, selected for their stiff", erect habit, 

 and great wealth of bloom. They, with the 

 Single Tom Thumb varieties, are useful to 

 plant as an outside row in large beds of the 

 taller-growing types. 



Propagation. — The Dahlia is propagated by 

 seeds, cuttings, division of the roots, or occa- 

 sionally by grafting. The seeds may be sown 

 in the end of March or the beginning of April, 

 in pans filled with light rich soil, and placed in 

 a bottom-heat of about 60°. A dung frame 

 with a moist heat is invariably used by the 

 raisers of seedling Dahlias. When the seed- 

 lings are about 2 inches high they should be 

 pricked out in small pots, gradually hardened 

 off in May, and planted out in the beginning of 

 June. Cuttings are obtained from the roots, 



Fig. 539.— Pompon Dahlias. 



which, having been kept through the 

 are placed in moist heat in a little li 

 such as leaf -mould, either under a sta 



winter, 

 ^ht soil 

 ge in a 



