FLOEISTS' FLOWERS. 



87 



up in a green-lioiise, putting on a little fire to dry- 

 up any moisture that may be in the pod ; in due 

 time the seeds must be rubbed out, put into bags and 

 cleaned at leisure ready for sowing in spring. In 

 March the seeds should be sown in pots, and put 

 into a cucumber frame, where they will freely 

 germinate ; then potted off, and grown on to put out 

 of doors early in June to flower. 



The Dahlia is a gross feeder, and if fine flowers 

 are required the soil in which the plants are to grow 

 must be made very rich. The soil should be deeply 

 trenched and thrown up rough during the winter, or 

 as soon as it can conveniently be done. It is not 

 necessary to dig in manure then. At planting-time, 

 which should not be earlier than June, the ground 

 should be marked out for each plant, and they 



