35 



made of potatoes ; and the blooms should be so high 

 above the tubes that the lower petals do not touch 

 the board. 



Exhibiting Stand. — Dr. Lindley says, the dimen- 

 sions of a dahlia stand for twelve blooms should be 

 twenty-two inches long by sixteen and a half wide, 

 four in depth, and five and a quarter from tube to 

 tube : sixteen and a half by eleven and a quarter will 

 be the proportion for a stand of six. The surface of 

 stands is generally painted a light green ; a colour 

 which shows the flowers off to the greatest advantage. 

 {Gard. Chron.) 



For sending dahlias to a distance, a wooden funnel, 

 not unlike a hyacinth glass in shape, has been in- 

 vented by Mr. Pratt, head gardener to W. Harrison, 

 Esq., Gothic Cottage, Cheshunt. The stalk of the 

 dahlia is thrust down the tube of this funnel, whilst 

 its blossom rests in, and is protected by, the basin of 

 the funnel. Each dahlia bloom has its funnel, and 

 the funnels are inserted in holes made at regular 

 distances in a tin plate, which forms a cover to a 

 shallow box containing moistened moss. So treated, 

 dahlias will remain fresh for a week, and may be 

 sent to any distance. {Gard. Mag. v. 526, N.S.) 



d 2 



