FLORISTS' FLOWERS. 



£9 



viz., more seeds, and a shorter winter to preserve 

 the roots in. One danger in storing Dahlia roots 

 has to be guarded against. It is the practice to cut 

 away the main stem to within six inches or a little 

 more of the root. This stem will be found to be 

 hollow, and it is apt to become filled with moisture, 

 which, if allowed to remain, is likely to cause rot to 

 set in. When wet appears the roots should be turned 

 upside down to allow the moisture to run out. The 

 roots must be covered up securely during frosty 

 weather. 



In the cases of the bouquet and the single Dahlias, 

 these being grown mainly for the flowers they 

 supply, the act of cutting constantly, operates in 

 much the same way as thinning and disbudding 

 does with the show varieties. But the plants should 

 be well cared for, mulching with manure about the 

 roots, and keeping them well watered, and tied 

 securely to stakes to prevent them from being blown 

 about by the wind. 



The Cactus Dahlias so called, of which the Mexican 

 D. Jiiarezii is the original type, are becoming very 

 popular, and appear likely to take the place of the 

 single' varieties for cutting and general decorative 

 purposes. It must not be supposed all are seedlings of 



D. Juarezii : indeed, it would appear that anything 

 of a semi-double character has been regarded as a 

 Cactus Dahlia ; but of late there is being introduced 

 a number of varieties of attractive appearance, that 

 are remarkably free of bloom, and afford great quan- 

 tities of flowers. They need similar culture to the 

 single varieties. The best sorts are Empress of India, 

 crimson; Constance, white; Flambeau, scarlet; Zady 



E. Dyke, yellow ; Lady Marsham, bright salmon ; 

 and Mrs. Hawkins, sulphur-yellow. There is no 

 necessity for disbudding the Cactus Dahlias ; cutting 

 the blooms answers the same purpose. 



At present, perhaps, the greatest danger in the 

 cultivation of single Dahlias is that of getting them 

 too large, which seems to destroy the refinement of 

 the flower. The efforts of florists are therefore de- 

 voted to the perpetuation of a race of small or 

 moderate-sized compact flowers. These again diflfer 

 in their character in various ways. Some have 

 petals highly reflexed or curled back, while others 

 are flat ; in some the petals fill up a disc, while in 

 others they are narrower, and give a more stellate 

 character to the blooms. There are also self- 

 coloured, "fancy," and striped flowers. Some of 

 the choicer and smaller flowers are much sought for 

 cutting purposes. Our illustrations represent two of 

 Mr. Ware's fine varieties, the striped variety being 

 a small flower, with petals white, beautifully edged 

 with scarlet. 



Not a few lovers of the Dahlia prefer the pretty 

 bouquet or pompon varieties, with their compact, 



symmetrical double flowers, to the single types, 

 because they are more durable in a cut state, and 

 produced with greater freedom. The single flowers 

 are much used in the way of decorating epergnes, 

 vases, &c., for table and house work ; but they should 

 always be used sparingly, and especially such as are 

 of bright and striking colours. 



The bouquet and single varieties are in some in- 

 stances tall growers, but their height can be reduced 

 by giving the stems a slight twist when the plants 

 are eighteen inches or so in hfeight, which will cause 

 them to recline on the ground ; a peg should then 

 be placed to each plant to keep them in positionj 

 and they will soon take on an upright growth, 

 bloom as freely, and be as effective as if they had 

 not been dwarfed in their proper statiire. 



The bedding varieties, being of dwarf growth^ 

 very profuse of bloom, and having the habit of 

 throwing their flowers on erect stems, are very useful 

 for filling beds, and for placing singly in borders. 

 It is necessary to, keep the decayed flowers removed 

 to encourage the production of fresh ones, and to 

 make the plants look as attractive as possible. The 

 height of any tall-growing varieties of either section 

 can be shortened by gently bending down the stem 

 when the plant is young, and pegging it securely to 

 the ground, as recommended in the case of the single 

 varieties. This tends to bring the lower branches 

 to the earth, covering it, and forming a dense growth. 

 In planting a large bed the tallest should be put in 

 the centre and the dwarf est at the outer edge, pegging 

 down the plants where necessary. 



Selections or Dahlias. 



Show Varieties. 



Bendigo (Turner). 



Burs^undy (Turner). 



Buttercup (Pellowes), 



Clara (Eawlings). 



Colonist (Keynes). 



Constancy (Keynes). 



Flag of Truce (Wheeler). 



Georgiana (Keynes). 



George Kawlings (Raw- 

 lings) . 



Goldfinder (Fellowes). 



Harry Keith (Keynes). 



Henry Walton (Keynes). 



Herbert Turner (Turner). 



J. B. Service (Keynes). 



James Cocker (Keynes). 



James Stephen (Keynes). 



John Neville Keynes 

 (Keynes). 



John Standish (Turner). 



Joseph Ashby (Turner). 



Joseph Green (Keynes). 



Lady Gladys Herbert 

 (Keynes). 



Miss Cannell (Eckford). 



Mr. G. Harris (Eawlings). 



Mrs. Foster (Turner). 



Mrs. Gladstone (Hurst). 



Mrs, Glasscock (Eawlings). 



Mrs. Harris (Harris). 



Mrs. Langtry (Keynes). 



Mrs. Shirley Hibberd (Raw- 

 lings). 



Prince Bismarck (Fellowes). 

 Prince of Denmark (Fel- 

 lowes). 



E. T. Eawhngs (Eawlings). 

 Sunbeam (Fellowes). 

 William Eawhngs (Raw- 

 lings). 



Fancy Varieties. 



Annie Pritchard (Keynes). 

 Charles Wyatt (Keynes). 

 Fanny Sfcurt (Pope). 

 Gaiety (Keynes). 

 George Barnes (Keynes). 

 Grand Sultan (Keynes). 

 Henry Eckford (Eawlings). 

 Henry Glasscock (Keynes). 

 Hugh Austin (Keynes). 



James O'Brien (Keynes). 

 John Forbes (Keynes). 

 Laura Haslam (Fellowes). 

 Mrs. H. Halls (Eawlings). 

 Mrs. Saunders (Turner). 

 Peacock (Turner). 

 Professor F awcett ( Keynes) . 

 Eev.J.B.M.Camm (Keynes). 

 W. G. Head (Turner). 



