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Shelter, both from wind and sun, is essential for 

 the lengthened continuance in beauty of the dahlia 

 blooms when expanded. Mr. Glenny observes, wind 

 and sun are both detrimental ; and the practice of 

 fixing the blooms in the centre of a fiat board, and 

 covering them with glass or flower-pots, as they may 

 want light or shade, is becoming general. The more 

 easy way is to use a paper shade for any particular 

 fine blooms ; for, however the flowers may be coaxed 

 and nursed under cover, a stand of blooms grown 

 finely, and merely shaded from the hottest sun, will 

 beat all others in brilliancy, and in standing carriage, 

 and keeping. It is right to go round the plants, 

 and wherever there is a promising bud or bloom, 

 take away all the leaves and shoots that threaten to 

 touch it as they grow ; take off also the adjoining 

 buds, and, if the weather be windy, make it fast to a 

 stick or one of the stakes, that it may not be bruised or 

 frayed ; shade it from intense sunshine, and it will so 

 profit by the air and night dews, as compared with 

 the blooms under pots and glasses, that, if the growth 

 be equal, the blooming will be superior. Neverthe- 

 less, people will cover ; and where there is a disposi- 

 tion to a hard eye, this will hardly come out perfect 

 unless it is covered. As the end of September ap- 

 proaches, or as soon as you have done with the 

 bloom, earth up the plants, that when the frost comes 

 it may not reach the crown. 



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