64 



SITUATION, SOIL AND MANURES. 



Situation. — No flower is more impatient of the 

 overshadowing of trees, or of a confined atmosphere, 

 than is the dahlia. It is a native of unshaded plains, 

 and cannot endure being deprived of sunshine, and a 

 free but not boisterous circulation of air. 



Mr. Wildman, therefore, does not speak too 

 strongly when he says that, without a free and pure 

 atmosphere, all our labours would be lost ; for a 

 dahlia, of all flowers, required a strong air ; — and it 

 was in this respect that the metropolitan florists 

 could never compete with their country rivals. In 

 fact, so great was the difference, that many flowers, 

 which with the one are most desirable, are with the 

 other, if not worthless, absolutely useless. 



Hard-eyed flowers would never do in London, nor 

 those that were thin and soft in the country : the 

 first requires a strong air and free growth, which the 

 latter cannot bear ; as instances, he mentioned Gre- 

 gory's Kegina, as a useful London flower, but worth 

 nothing in the country. Cox's Defiance, though hi- 

 therto a favourite in the country, could seldom or ever 

 be exhibited by a London grower. Lady Cooper, 

 again, often beautiful in the country, was useless 

 here, the back petals falling ere the others were 



