60 



ficiency of nutritient matter, to sustain the rapidity 

 developing and vigorous vegetation. 



Plants propagated by cuttings, cannot, of course, 

 absorb the nutriment prepared and stored, during the 

 last season, in the tubers of the mother root ; and are 

 forced to form spongioles and tubers for themselves. 

 But the fecula contained in these latter is not, till 

 towards the end of the year, sufficient in quantity, or 

 sufficiently ripened by the deposition of carbon, to 

 be, perhaps, in any way serviceable. Therefore, in 

 order to secure a good and satisfactory bloom, let the 

 roots be laid, in March, in a damp warm place, such 

 as a forcing-house, gentle hotbed, or even a cellar ; 

 and, when the buds shew themselves, let each root be 

 divided into as many pieces as may be required, re- 

 taining a bud to each piece ; and let them be then 

 planted separately in 48-sized pots. The after-treat- 

 ment is the same as for plants raised from cuttings. 

 (Gard. Mag. iv. 178, N.S.) 



Upon this mode of propagation, Mr. Glenny re- 

 marks, that the tuber of the dahlia has rarely any 

 bud or eye, except where it joins the stem of the last 

 year's plant, the part called the crown ; and it will be 

 frequently found that the tuber is very small at that 

 end. It is, therefore, of the greatest importance that 

 in taking these up, and preserving them for the win- 

 ter, they should not be broken, twisted, nor bruised 

 at the end which joins the crown ; and if they are 



