48 COLCHICUM AND DOUBLE DAHLIA. 



persons, is disagreeable. They are, however, very 

 hardy, and produce singular and showy flowers, in 

 April and May, suited to make a variety to the flower 

 border, in which they may be planted in August and 

 September, from three to four inches deep ; they need 

 not be taken up every year as other bulbs, and when 

 they are, which may be about every third year, they 

 ought not to be retained too long out of the ground 

 before they are again planted as before. 



Colchicum. — This curious little bulb, being planted 

 in the month of June, about two inches deep, produces 

 its flowers in October, it then dies, without leaving 

 any external appearance of seeds ; they, however, lie 

 buried in the bulb all the winter, and in spring, pro- 

 duce a stalk with seeds, which get ripe by the first of 

 June, just in time to plant for flowering in the ensuing 

 autumn. How wonderful are the provisions of nature ! 



Double Dahlia. — This may, with propriety, be 

 denominated one of the most important perennial 

 tuberous-rooted plants that can be introduced into a 

 garden ; and from the circumstance of its having 

 become so fashionable of late years, I have felt anxious 

 to furnish in this work a very select list ; I, therefore, 

 applied to Mr. G. C. Thorburn, who, from a regular 

 correspondence with connoisseurs, both in England 

 and America, is acquainted with all the most rare and 

 beautiful varieties. He has kindly furnished a list 

 and description of about sixty of the choicest, some of 

 which are deemed extra fine ; to these I have added 

 about a hundred more, all of which are pre-eminent 



