88 



any required height the length of the stalk allows, 

 and that instantly. 



The shade is made of tin, 10^- inches in diameter, 

 the band 2% inches broad, and the crown rises about 

 3 inches : to the shade is attached a tube, furnished 

 with a spring (fig. A), which, when the stake is in- 

 troduced, presses it firmly, and keeps the shade at 

 the height required. The spring, in this instance, 

 was made of double tin, but a well-constructed spring 

 would be an improvement, and be less liable to get 

 out of order. A screw would be better than a spring, 

 as represented in the annexed cut. They are painted 

 white inside and out ; but their appearance in a gar- 

 den would be less objectionable if the outside received 

 a coat of green. When the flowers are tall, the stem 

 should be tied to the stake to prevent injury from 

 motion caused by the wind. 



Autumn frosts. — These destroy at once the beauty 

 of the dahlia, not only by injuring its petals, but by 

 breaking down the tissue of its leaves. They are 

 thus rendered more unsightly than ornamental, but, 

 if it be again cultivated the following year, on no ac- 

 count cut down the stems early in the autumn, for 

 this will ensure the rotting of the tubers through the 

 winter, from their immature state, and the superabun- 

 dance of fluids the roots contain. We have experi- 

 enced this from those which we have been compelled 

 to cut down in conspicuous situations perishing, whilst 



